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By Amos Okioma, Yenagoa
The immediate past deputy chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State, Chief Ebi Matthew Goli, was asked to take a respectful bow and leave the sacred floor of the House.
Chief Goli, who was asked to bring his wealth of experiences to bear on his new assignment, was however informed that as education forms the foundation of societal progress in all ramifications the state expects much from him.
It is also worthy to recall that Barrister Tare Pori, member representing Ekeremor Constituency 1, during plenary raised a motion that bordered on the continued absence of primary school teachers in rural communities, where they are posted.
According to him, he discovered this during his electioneering campaigns within his constituency, adding that as it stands against the declared emergency in the education sector, all necessary steps need to be taken to reverse the trend.
He reiterated that the Restoration Government of Hon. Seriake Dickson had put so much infrastructure in place for pupils to access quality education, adding that if proper and adequate legislative steps are not taken to address the decay, it would result in abysmal woe to everything that has been put in place.
To this motion, all members voiced their support, saying that the phenomenal absenteeism of teachers from their primary places of assignment cut across all rural communities in the state.
According to them, if the trend is allowed to persist, it would destroy the foundation of education in the state.
They revealed that there are empirical evidences that point to the fact that over the years, there has been exodus of primary school teachers from rural communities to the urban city, adding that some truants bribe headmasters, supervisors and other prominent personalities to obtain the leverage to stay off duty, thereby starving the children of quality education and mentorship.
Consequent upon the debate, it was resolved that the commissioner for Education, chairmen and secretaries of SUBEB, Post primary schools board, Primary schools board, academic and non-academic unions would be invited to meet with the House committees on Education and public service to deliberate on the issues at stake, with a view to finding lasting solutions.
On the basis of this, the House committees were charged to submit their reports within three weeks.
