In spite scrapping of the conduct of post Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME) for candidates seeking admission into tertiary institutions by the Federal Government, students in Rivers State have decried the continuous poor rating of Nigerian universities.

The students urged the government to improve the teaching and learning environment in the country with the aim of advancing the standard of education in Nigeria.

The students rationalised that Nigeria’s poor rating in education has been as a result of empty laboratories, poor infrastructural facilities, lack of training and retraining of teachers, non introduction of new techniques for teaching, absence of information technology centres in schools and encouragement of bribery and corruption in the system, among others.

The students divulged these challenges during a programme to mark the 2016 International Children’s Day celebration in Port Harcourt, organised by the Development and Leadership Institute (DLI).

A student of Graceland International School Port Harcourt, Nnamdi Okoronkwo, who spoke at the event, noted that irregular check of schools curriculums by government to meet with the international standards further affects the country’s educational system.

Acting Executive Director of DLI, Mr. Marshal Ekpete, urged government to give a listening ear to the students by improving their learning environment and strengthening the training and retraining of teachers.