The Rivers State House of Assembly has decried the state of facilities and teaching staff in some public schools, while considering the declaration of a state of Emergency on education in the state.
This followed reports of vandalism and extensive looting of some public schools in the state, as well as lack of access to conducive learning environment for students in the affected schools.
The Assembly, during its sitting on Thursday November 27, 2025 received the report of the House Committee on Education on the vandalisation and looting of school properties.
The House had earlier mandated the committee to visit the locus inquo, which is Township School 2, a public school located in the Port Harcourt metropolis, to ascertain the level of vandalisation there.
Igwe Aforji, chairman of the House committee and member representing Eleme Constituency, while presenting the report, painted a grim picture of the state of the school and implored the House to urge the government to declare a state of emergency on public primary and secondary schools in the state.
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Martin Amaewhule, Speaker of the Assembly, decried the state of the Township School 2. He wondered what could be the fate of schools in the rural areas if a school in the heart of Port Harcourt could be in such deplorable state.
“We cannot continue to be quiet. We cannot continue to fold our hands while our children continue to suffer, while teachers continue to cry,” he said.
The Assembly further resolved to invite the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education and the chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board to explain the state of affairs in public schools.
Also, deliberating on the report of the Joint Committee on Environment and Urban Development on the recent flash flooding experienced in Port Harcourt and its environs, the Rivers State House of Assembly urged the Executive arm to develop a comprehensive master plan that would reflect the current urban realities of population growth and environmental conditions.
