National Association of Seadogs (Pyrates Confraternity), Ebonyi State chapter, has asked the state government to recruit more qualified teachers for its public schools and ensure better welfare packages for the teachers to ensure a qualitative and efficient education system in the state.
The president of the association, Prince Chidi Aloh, expressed concern over the number of out-of-school children across the country and maintained that the recruitment of more qualified teachers and better welfare packages will restore confidence in public schools.
He maintained that many public schools in the state lack committed and dedicated teachers, adding that the lack of political will to restore the lost glory of public schools has led to its dwindling activities over the years.
“The increasing number of out-of-school children is something that is very worrisome because when you have a lot of out-of-school children, in the near future, it is going to become a problem because they don’t have a brighter and promising future.
“Most of these children who are out of school don’t have anything to fall back on. That is why you see many of them engaging in criminal activities and other social vices. Education is very, very important and key in the future of the young people.
“Having put into perspective the dangers posed by having many out of school children in the streets, we decided to create the awareness, to sensitive parents why they should send their children to school. To remind the government of what is expected of them and to also encourage the students on the need for them to not just go to school but to remain in classes.
“The sensitization campaign is taking place globally.
It is part of our little way to give back to the society. We also reminded the parents that when you train a child or children in school, they will acquire education and in turn become useful not just to the parents but also to the society.
“Government is a critical stakeholder in reducing the number of children in the streets. Government agencies will always tell us that there is a free and compulsory primary and secondary education in our public schools, but most times we don’t see it.
“Parents are complaining that despite the pronouncement of government of implementing free and compulsory education, but parents are always extorted. When you observe what it takes to register a child in school, you will come to the conclusion that there is nothing like free education in our public schools.
“It is our expectation that government should actually make the public school free. The public primary and secondary school must be made free, so that children of the underprivileged will be able to afford it. Everybody knows how difficult it is now to afford the cost of sending a child to a private school in the state.
“Government should also provide the basic needs to make the learning environment conducive. They should also take a step further to provide for those children things like sandals, school uniform, stockings, bags, books, as an incentive. Less privileged children also enjoy qualitative education just as those in private schools.
“We’ve also observed that why most children don’t go to public schools owned by government is because most times, when you go there, you don’t find any teacher. Many of them prefer to teach in schools here in Abakaliki. Regrettably, nobody monitors if they report to their duty post.
“Many of our public schools are so dilapidated. Some of the schools, don’t even have roof. The few children seen around sit on the floor to learn. There are no chairs. Pupils and students study in very terrible condition. So we want government to please to look into it, see how they can provide the necessary facilities for the public schools.
“It is also important that instead of abandoning the existing structures to start the construction of new ones that might be abandoned, they should use the funds o renovate the dilapidated buildings and put them into use.”
Prince Aloh said that the association also distributed school bags, writing materials and other items to pupils and students within Abakaliki metropolis adding that the gesture was to encourage them.
He said that the association also renovated the building housing inmates of St. Vincent De Paul Old People’s and Destitute Home Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.
