Delta State Government has said it is not unmindful of the furniture deficits in schools across the state and is taking steps to address them.
The Chairman, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Hon Samuel Mariere, stated this on Wednesday in Asaba while reacting to recent videos circulating in some social media platforms where some pupils were seen sitting on the floor at Eghreka Primary School, Ewu, in Ughelli South Local Government Area.
Hon Mariere said this year alone the Board had supplied over 16,000 dual desks to schools across the state, in addition to those provided by other MDAs, especially the Ministries of Primary and Secondary Education through the constituency projects of members of the State House of Assembly and corporate organisations.
He added that 234 new classrooms were constructed, comprising 162 delivered by Delta SUBEB under the 2024 UBE Intervention Fund and 72 completed by the Delta State Government, while 24 classrooms were still under construction by the state government as at the end of the reporting period.
These interventions, according to him, substantially reduced congestion, provided safer and more conducive environments for learning, and opened opportunities for enrolment expansion in both rural and urban schools.
“Security and welfare facilities were also prioritized with the construction of 22 perimeter block walls and gate houses, the renovation of five others, the provision of 164 VIP toilets, and the construction of five solar-powered boreholes.
“Teachers’ accommodation received attention with the delivery of 10 staff quarters, while learners benefitted from the supply of 16,834 units of furniture, maintenance of an additional 4,000 units, and the provision of 50 double bunk beds and 50 foams to support boarding arrangements.
“From the Need Assessment recently carried out by fhe Board, it is true that some of the schools are in need of more furniture to actually cater for the `1,141 Primary Schools in the state. Out of this figure, 30% is to be replaced as a result of destruction by members of the community where these schools are located.
“In some cases, these seats are used during burials and football matches and are never returned to the classrooms after use thereby exposing them to theft, rain and harsh weather while in some cases these furniture are maliciously destroyed to make money by selling the iron frames of the seats to scavengers (iron condemn). Then of course, those destroyed by the pupils”, the SUBEB Chairman noted.
Hon Mariere, who described the viral video as a political tool, however, revealed that the State Governor, Rt. Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, had approved the immediate supply of 1000 seats to schools needing urgent attention, while over 16,000 dual seats would be provided from the 2025 UBE projects, which process was ongoing and hopefully the contracts would be awarded before the end of the year.
He stated that as part of the activities of the Board this season, the state government, in collaboration with UBEC, would on 9th October, 2025, kick off Basic Schools Sport in centres across the 25 LGAs of the state, pointing out that the grand finale would hold on 22nd October, 2025 at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba.
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