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However, society watchers
are of the opinion that states and the
federal government have in their budgetary
allocations set aside too little for the
transformation of our nation's educational
sector. The basic fact being that without
proper education of the citizenry, the
effect of ignorance, illiteracy and poverty
will be too deadly for our nation to bear in
the future. On this understanding the
federal government decided to fashion the
6-9-3 system of the education sector and by
implication the nation, but the system could
not produce the needed effect.
It would be recalled that
the 6-9-3 Universal Basic Education system
was then fashioned to replace the 6-3-3-4
system of education on 30th September 1999
with the purpose to eradicate illiteracy,
ignorance and poverty as well as to
stimulate and accelerate development,
political consciousness and national
integration. However, the scheme took off on
26th May 2004 when the UBE bill was signed
into law by the President and commander in
chief.
Remarkably, Primary
school education is the bedrock of any
society development. It is the first step to
liberate a people from the clutches of
ignorance. Therefore, faulty has always cast
doom for the people while good foundation is
an eye opener and crystal mirror for a
progressive society since the primary level
is the moulder level of the youth, who are
leaders of tomorrow. None the less
therefore, Education enhances lives. It ends
generational cycles of poverty and diseases
and provides a foundation for sustainable
development. In addition, a rights-base
education approach can address some of the
society's deeply rooted inequalities. These
inequalities had condemned millions of
children to a life without quality education
and therefore to a life of missed
opportunities. The above reasons give
credence to why primary education level must
be headed by only people of proven ability,
disciplinarians, unweaving decision makers
and tested character moulders. This is in
line with the core values of the Universal
Basic Education Commission (UBE) which are
anchored on honesty and accountability,
Integrity and transparency, team work and
commitment.
In Rivers state, the
person the cap fitted as at 24th of July
2009 was Sir Alli Oruitemeka, a well
performed permanent secretary in the state
civil service. He was spotted by His
Excellency Rt. Hon. Chubike Rotimi Amaechi
and made Chairman of the Rivers State
Universal Education Board. His appointment
was greeted with ovation and commendation.
Many prominent citizens, especially senior
civil servants simply describe him as humble
and unassuming, an administrator per
excellence whose performances and
productivity has earned him this important
position.
Others say that judging
from the level of dedication with which he
had carried out state assignments over the
years his Excellency made a good choice for
his appointment.
It would be recalled that
at the period of appointment, he was faced
with near collapse of the school system
caused by dilapidated building, low morale
and lack of commitment by pupils and
teachers. The issue of bloated monthly wages
bills occasioned by inclusion of ghost
workers in salary vouchers, selection of
contractors without recognizing laid down
procedures, absenteeism of teachers among
others was on its highest peak.
Sir Oruitemeta started
off with tackling of the
hydra-headed problem of identifying
ghost workers in the system which had
robbed it so much and hindered development.
Not too long the result was glaring as a
total of 1,477 ghost workers which amounted
to over N200 million monthly frauds were
identified. He quickly meted out punitive
measures to the culprits by making them
refund various sums of money to serve as
deterrent to others. On this issue the
unbelievable finding that payments were
still being made to dead staff, some over
ten years was disappointing news to
observers but it brought kudos to him. He
also attacked the incidence of absenteeism
by teachers and reduced to the barest
minimum in the shortest possible time
bringing about sanity of the system and an
atmosphere for development.
The chairman then also
put mechanism in place to enforce the state
UBE law which provides punishment to
guidance or parents who refuse to send their
children to school which today has brought
results in our state for children of school
age. In the area of contract awards for
projects, he ensured that only capable and
performing contractors were engaged by the
Board. He therefore introduced bidding
exercises for contractors where certificates
of registration and capabilities of such
contractors are scrutinized. Through this
process in place, unqualified and non
performers were either dropped or threatened
to be disengage not minding whose ox is
gored.
Not too long, his
performances made him the philosophical
golden fish without a hiding place. Sir
Oruitemeta has been identified by well
meaning personalities in the educational
sector as the best performed chairman in the
south south Zone of performances of the
Rivers state SUBEB chairman in the area of
improving educational system and structures
in place was commendable.
This was also
corroborated by Mrs. Pat. Etejeh Executive
Chairman of SUBEC who said that building of
classrooms to a higher level as exemplified
by state of the art-facilities at the state
model school Elekohia among others and early
release of the state counterpart
contributory fund by His Excellency Rt. Hon.
Chubuike Amaechi which has enhanced their
work and make it easier is also
commendation.
Today, Rivers state graph
of educational development is shooting high
signaling the speed of a cheetah which he
melted and remoulded a sector he met in a
logjam. To state the obvious therefore, the
performances of Sir Alli Oruitemeta as
chairman of Rivers state Universal Education
Board beams as the sunray of hope to this
generation and yet unborn. His foot prints
are visible on the marble in the vast,
varied and valued ways that have attracted
commendation from important personalities in
and around the state. May the Almighty God
continue to grant him the grace to carry out
his assignment in the days, weeks, months
and years ahead.
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