The Delta State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) has reaffirmed its commitment to improving learning conditions in public schools across the state and urged the public to disregard misleading information being circulated on social media.
The Board made this known on Tuesday, October 8, 2025, during a press briefing held at the Conference Hall of its headquarters in Asaba, where it clarified issues raised in a recent viral video concerning the state of facilities in a public primary school.
“Ordinarily, we would not have responded to it because it is more political, but to keep records straight, it has become necessary to brief the press on the true situation of things and the efforts being made by the State Government to improve the quality of education and infrastructure in the state.”
Speaking at the briefing, the Chairman of SUBEB, Hon. Samuel Mariere, said the Board this year alone has supplied over 16,000 dual desks to schools across Delta State. He noted that this is in addition to other provisions made by relevant government ministries and through the constituency projects of Honourable Members of the Delta State House of Assembly.
Mariere explained that findings from a recent Needs Assessment conducted by the Board revealed that while some schools still require additional furniture to serve the state’s 1,141 primary schools, about 30 percent of the shortage resulted from destruction and misuse by community members where the schools are located.
According to him, “Some community members remove classroom furniture for social functions such as burials and football matches and fail to return them. In other cases, the furniture is left in the open to be damaged by rain and harsh weather.”
He lamented that some items were deliberately vandalized, with their iron frames sold to scavengers, while others were damaged through careless handling by pupils.
The SUBEB boss, however, assured that Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has graciously approved the immediate provision of seats to schools that require urgent intervention, even as the process to supply an additional 16,000 dual desks under the UBE projects is underway.
In terms of infrastructure, Mariere disclosed that a total of 234 new classrooms have been constructed this year, comprising 162 delivered by Delta SUBEB under the 2024 UBE Intervention Fund and 72 completed directly by the Delta State Government. He added that this significant investment underscores the administration’s commitment to providing conducive learning environments across the state.
He stated that the procurement process for additional furniture is ongoing and expressed optimism that contracts for the supply would be awarded before the end of the year.
Mariere also clarified that most of the schools featured in the viral video actually have newly constructed and equipped classrooms, but “malicious individuals chose to focus on old and abandoned structures to mislead the public.”
To address this, he said the Board plans to demolish the old and dilapidated buildings to give the affected schools a uniform and modern facelift that reflects the state government’s ongoing efforts in infrastructure renewal.
He further commended Governor Oborevwori for his unwavering support to the education sector through the M.O.R.E. Agenda.
Quoting him, Mariere said: “Building the minds of our children through access to quality education and improved learning environments aligns perfectly with the Governor’s M.O.R.E. Agenda and his vision of a stronger Delta.”
The SUBEB Chairman therefore urged members of the public to disregard politically motivated attempts to misrepresent facts, stressing that the Board remains committed to ensuring that every child in Delta State learns in a safe and well-equipped environment.
