Public primary, secondary, and private schools in Bayelsa State officially resumed their 2024/2025 academic session on Monday, August 12, marking an early start compared to schools in other states.
The early resumption aligns with a state policy designed to allow several weeks of academic activities before the outset of the annual flood disaster that always affects the region.
Introduced in 2022, the policy was designed to reduce the devastating impact of flooding on students and educational activities in the state.
The schools are expected to run until October 4, 2024, and vacate for six weeks before resuming on November 18, 2024, to complete the first term of the current academic calendar.
The six-week break is anticipated to allow floodwaters to recede across most of the state, ensuring a smooth resumption for schools.
Meanwhile, an environmental expert and former Commissioner for Environment in the state, Engr. Udengs Eradiri has called on the state government to begin early preparations for this year's flood.
(Gentle Emelah, Bayelsa Education Commissioner)
The federal government, through the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) last month announced that 31 states have been identified as high-risk areas of flooding for 2024 with Bayelsa among the states.
Eradiri emphasized that early preparations are crucial to mitigating the impact of flooding and reducing its humanitarian effects.
He acknowledged the ongoing efforts to clear drainages and unblock areas to facilitate the free flow of floodwaters, the former governorship candidate of the Labour Party stressed that more comprehensive actions are necessary to address the anticipated challenges.
He said: "I saw the clearing of drainages but I know this is usually done, the problem usually is that the clearing must get to the inlets and outlets where water comes in and leaves and not just the city centre.
"The government needs to start preparing IDP camps in areas that will be completely submerged. The Ministry of Information is yet to start any flood awareness campaign and education, so people can know their nearest IDP center to prevent public buildings from being indiscriminately occupied."
The former President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), who noted that flood mitigation is a responsibility for every Bayelsan, urged the government to also block the canal that brings in water that floods the entire area where the state cemetery is located.
"The government needs to also provide certain items and commodities for the people this is because the East-West road will be cut off and deny people access to and from Bayelsa to get food, fuel, medicine, and other essential supplies needed for survival", he added.
