By Sam Jones, Yenagoa
A programme to improve education delivery at the primary school level in Bayelsa State known as BayelsaPrime is facing challenges capable of eroding the gains of the past one year.
The programme commenced in 2023 in four pilot local government areas of Kolokuma/Opokuma, Ogbia, Sagbama and Yenagoa local government areas provides tablets with lesson notes to teachers as well as checking absenteeism amongst other things.
However, as schools resumed on August 12 for the 2024/2025 academic year, teachers in the four pilot local government areas did not receive any teaching materials thereby leaving teachers and pupils alike to stay idle.
The development prompted a group, Education Trust Minds, to raise the alarm on Friday that the gains recorded by in the past year will be lost if the government and all stakeholders do not act fast to address any challenges.
In a statement in Yenagoa, chairman of the group, Mr. Ebi Raphael, said the BayelsaPrime project, if implemented diligently will reduce the number of out of school children in the state by making education at the primary school level affordable to parents and guardians.
Raphael said at a time that the state is facing the challenges of poor or dilapidated infrastructure, lack of laboratories and libraries, BayelsaPrime has deployed technology to improve the standard of teaching and learning.
He said what most stakeholders want to hear is the expansion of the project to the remaining four local government areas of Brass, Ekeremor, Nembe and Southern Ijaw, and not to witness the resumption of schools without BayelsaPrime.
Describing the project as a real game changer, Raphael said if Bayelsa State wants to improve on its present education ranking of sixth in the South-South and 14th in Nigeria, it is imperative to reactivate and rejig as well strengthen BayelsaPrime for optimal performance.
The statement read: “Under the BayelsaPrime programme, all teachers are given a teacher tablet containing expertly prepared lesson notes on all subjects. All head teachers additionally receive a smart phone which helps in the management of their schools bridging the communication gap between head teachers, teachers and pupils.
“The programme further monitors teachers to assess their areas of strength and weaknesses with a view to offering specifically tailored support in meeting with the needs of the pupils.
“The programme has routinely, for the past two weeks, embarked on an enrolment drive for pupils across the state, encouraging parents to enroll their children in public primary schools and to benefit from the programme. This is an innovation that needs to be sustained.
“However, upon resumption of schools on the 12th of August, 2024 for the 2024/2025 session, teachers have not received lesson notes via the teaching tablets or other learning materials. In fact, the clear message displayed on the tablet reads: “This is to notify you that the license for the lesson guides have expired. Please contact SUBEB for details”.”
The group said it is extremely important for the authorities to resolve these issues before they impact the schools system, teachers and pupils and to consolidate on the early positive gains already recorded in the programme.
At the time of filing the story, the Executive Secretary, State Universal Basic Education Board, Chief Victor Okubonanabo and Commissioner for Education, Dr. Gentle Emelah, could not be reached for comments.