The Chairman of Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta state, Friday Warri, has bemoaned the high rate of absentee teachers and non teaching staff of primary schools in the local government.
The council chairman who stated this on Tuesday, while on an unscheduled visit to some primary schools in the local government, condemned the attitude of teaching, and non- teaching staff in the discharge of their official responsibilities.
Also, he lamented the stealing, destruction and vandalisation of facilities and other amenities provided in primary schools.
On a visit to the Ozaha Primary School, Oleh and Urie Primary School, Emede, Warri disclosed that the state Ministry of Education in collaboration with the council, shall review the work ethics of primary school teachers and non- teaching staff in the local government.
Warri said “for instance, Ozaha Primary School, has about 200 learners with over 48 teaching staff, whereas Umeh Primary School, and Ikpide-Irri Primary School, with over 170 learners and over 200 learners, respectively, are understaffed with only one teacher each.
“The council will no longer fold its arms, and watch, while children in primary schools, especially those in rural areas lack teachers, while some schools in the local government headquarters are overstaffed.
“The Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the council, will see a way to curb this menace.”
He blamed the community and youth leaders, for not paying adequate attention to the destruction, and vandalisation of primary school properties in their locality.
“There is a trend that is going on in our schools, that is giving me sleepless nights. This issue of stealing primary school properties in our schools is a serious problem, and we have to do something about it.
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“This is becoming worrisome, and we are going to involve security agents to arrest any hooligan found engaging in the destruction and stealing of primary school properties.
“To address these issues, we have to speak to our community leaders. They should know that they owe it as a duty to protect these facilities. Let’s see how we can discourage it.
“I have been to schools on one occasion, and I saw the way they destroyed facilities in the schools, and I was not pleased.
“You can see some of the windows in this primary school, Ozaha Primary School are no more, their water overhead tank stolen, including that of Urie Primary School, Emede.
“It costs the government a lot of money to provide them; we own it as a responsibility to protect government facilities and properties,” Warri stated
