A Case For Public Schools In Onitsha

In this era of moral decadence characterized by vandalism and disobedience to constitutes authority among adulisents, there is need therefore to Maldonado an appraisal of the public schools in onitsha with a view of finding a way to lift the standard of these schools. In my view however, it is not that the private schools are better off, but the public schools are community based and the community should have a stake in them.


Looking at public schools in onitsha, both primary and secondary schools one will discover that there is a poor funding of those schools. This poor funding is evident in inadequacy of staff, inadequacy of teaching and learning materials, delapidated structures in the schools and insecurity of both the staff and students owing to poor teaching and learning environment.


The result of all these are not far-fetched. It brings about frustration on the students as the feeling of neglect and inferiority complex creep in. The student has no academic /educational security. He is not sure to complete favourably with his counterparts in the private or unity schools. Some students lack the basic knowledge of some subjects owing to lack of teachers in those areas. This results in high rate of failures in most external examinations.


There is equally mass transfer of students from the public schools to the private schools and massive patronage of the so called Miracle examination centers commonly called outside WAEC/NECO. These miracle exam centers still go with their attendant evils. Due to lack of effective control of students as a result of inadequate staffing of schools engage themselves in attitudes that do not go down well with the values of the community.


Having looked at these issues, there is need therefore to approach them community wise. It must be born in mind that Onitsha Ado is a kingdom with one king and that his sovereignty spreads over and above every facility in the kingdom. There may be several approaches but the main objective of this article is to suggest a community baser approach to solve these problems.


In the first place, the long vacation tutorials organized by National Association of Onitsha Adopted students is highly commendable. Agbogidi has equally done well through his inspiring encouragements. More needs to be done. The community needs to take a proprietary control over these schools. It is true that these schools are government owned, but the community school not forget that it is in our land among us and within us. There should be a central governing body constituted by ime-obi supervising these schools ensuring adequate funding and staffing and general maintenance of theses schools. This governing body will serve as advisers to the ime-obi council on a general education policy to ensure uniformity of administration in the schools.


In some towns and communities in the state, there are in existence in schools teachers referred to PTA staff. These staff are supervised and paid solely by the PTA to to ensure that no subject is left out in the education of the students. This should equally be adopted in Onitsha as there are many graduates and trained teachers roaming along the streets of Onitsha without employment.


This will not only serve the students but also provide employment for these graduates.
Philanthropist, age grades group, otu odu, ikporo Onitsha, Agbalanze, churches and their organisations should be mobilized and sensitized on the need to contribute both financially and morally towards this up hill task and project. Every well-meaning individual in Onitsha is called to make his contribution.