Baylesa Primary Schools Yet To Start Academic Activities Few Weeks After School Resumption.

 

As Academic Activities continue in some parts of the country, the case seems to be different as  primary school teachers  were yet to receive the daily teaching modules to enable them do their job especially in the rural area of the state.

This has seriously caused disruptions in education delivery in  the two hundred  and sixteen primary schools in the  four local government areas of Bayelsa State.

It was gathered on Tuesday that since schools resumed in August 12 for the 2024/25 session, academic activities were yet to fully commence in public primary schools in Sagbama, Ogbia, Yenagoa and Kolokuma/Opokuma local government areas.

Recall that a project  called BayelsaPrime project commenced in January 2023 in 216 primary schools in the four local government areas which involved over 3,000 teachers and 41,000 pupils.

The project is aimed at checking absenteeism amongst teachers and encourage improvement teacher/pupil interaction in class activities in addition to reducing the number of out of school children.

It was also learnt that BayelsaPrime provided books, smart phones for headteachers, tablets for teachers, monthly data and other teaching aids.

The project  it was revealed also provided daily teaching schedules, examination questions and result sheets as well as embarking on regular supervision across all the schools.

A concerned headteacher who didn't  want his name mentioned said that "Teachers are now teaching without lesson notes. Many teachers stay away. They said   there is nothing to teach.'

A group, Education Trust Minds,  has raised alarm few weeks ago  over the threat to primary education following the failure by BayelsaPrime to send its regular teaching materials since schools resumed.

There is an indication that the glitch has to do with payment issues.

Victor Okubonanabo, the Executive Secretary, Bayelsa State Universal Basic Education Board had revealed that  government  was trying to sort it out.

"We are trying to sort it out. There was payment problem. A memo has been raised by the Commissioner for Education."  He stated.