Opuama Secondary School In Ruins: Youth Leader Appeals To Diri, Education Commissioner For Urgent Intervention

Comr. Oumatebe Foster Kurotimi Raises Alarm Over Deteriorating Classrooms, Damaged Roofs, Inadequate Furniture And Teacher Shortages In Southern Ijaw

By TrackNews Online

A former Territorial Youth President of the Opuama Federated Youth Council, Comr. Oumatebe Foster Kurotimi, has appealed to Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, and the Commissioner for Education, Dr. Gentle Emelah, to urgently intervene in the deteriorating condition of Government Secondary School, Opuama, in Bomo East, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.

In an open letter addressed to the governor and the education commissioner, Kurotimi expressed concern over the state of the school’s infrastructure, inadequate classroom furniture, reported shortages of teaching personnel and poor road access, warning that the situation could undermine effective teaching and learning.

He called on the Bayelsa State Government to prioritise the rehabilitation of the institution to provide students and teachers with a safe, functional and conducive learning environment.

School Infrastructure In Deplorable Condition

According to Kurotimi, a previous publication on the school’s condition highlighted the deterioration of its eight building blocks, comprising 14 classrooms and hostel facilities, with vegetation reportedly taking over parts of the premises.

He explained that strong winds had blown off sections of the roofs several years ago, leaving parts of the school exposed to the elements and contributing to the worsening condition of the facilities.

The youth leader lamented that the situation had subjected students and teachers to considerable hardship, with rainfall reportedly disrupting academic activities.

He said teachers and students were sometimes forced to leave affected classrooms in search of shelter whenever it rained, describing the situation as a serious concern that required immediate government attention.

Kurotimi warned that an unsuitable learning environment could affect students’ concentration, attendance, academic performance and enthusiasm for education.

Damaged Furniture, Inadequate Facilities Raise Concerns

The open letter also highlighted concerns reportedly raised by Bigtown Kalawei, an Opuama resident who served as a security officer at the school.

According to the account cited by Kurotimi, Kalawei disclosed that the school lacked sufficient classroom furniture, while some of the available desks and chairs had been damaged by rain.

He reportedly appealed to the government to repair the deteriorating buildings and provide additional furniture to improve the learning environment and encourage students to take their studies seriously.

Kurotimi further stated that school officials had, on several occasions, taken photographs of the deteriorating facilities to relevant authorities in an effort to draw attention to the situation.

However, he said the community’s concerns remained unresolved at the time of the previous report.

The claims contained in the open letter have not been independently verified by TrackNews Online.

Youth Leader Seeks Urgent Government Assessment

Kurotimi stressed that the appeal was not merely about renovating old buildings but about protecting the educational future of children in Opuama and ensuring that students in riverine communities had access to quality education.

He urged the Ministry of Education to conduct an immediate inspection of the school, assess the extent of the deterioration and develop a comprehensive rehabilitation plan.

Among the interventions requested are the renovation of the eight building blocks, repairs to damaged roofs, structural rehabilitation of classrooms and hostel facilities, and the provision of adequate desks, chairs and other essential educational materials.

He also called for an assessment of the school’s staffing needs and the deployment of additional qualified teachers where necessary.

According to him, addressing the reported shortage of teachers alongside the infrastructure challenges would help improve academic delivery and learning outcomes.

Poor Road Access Also Identified As A Challenge

Beyond the condition of the school buildings, Kurotimi drew attention to the need to improve road access to Opuama and the institution.

He noted that poor access could create additional difficulties for teachers, students, parents and the transportation of educational materials.

He therefore urged the state government to consider improvements to the access roads as part of broader efforts to enhance educational activities and community development.

The youth leader also called for a clear intervention plan with appropriate monitoring mechanisms to ensure that any approved rehabilitation work was completed and the facilities properly maintained.

Appeal To Elected Representatives And Stakeholders

Kurotimi called on elected representatives a