By Samuel Ogude
At the resumption of both public and private schools across Delta State for second term in 2023/2024 academic session on Monday, 8th January, while many students have resumed, some are yet to resume even at the second week. Investigations revealed that both the teachers and administrators (Principals ) and others were on ground to do their work even at the first day.
Although, on that first day, many learners were not at school but the few that were present, were ready to learn. While the schools gradually settle down for serious academic work, a visit by Bailout Magazine to some schools in Warri and Effurun in Warri South and Uvwie Local Government Areas respectively of the state, revealed that the schools are facing challenges. It was discovered that while the schools went on short Christmas and New year breaks, some schools’ property were vandalized by hoodlums in the area. A case in point is that of Uwangue College, Warri where the hoodlums carted away window glasses, mattress belonging to Youth Coppers, wheelbarrow, among other items. This, according to investigation, happened when the school employed security men were on duty and resident teachers were in the premises, they never reported the incident to the Principal.
The Principal got to know this after some days when she came to school to do some maintenance awaiting resumption as her usual practice. Against this background, the matter was reported in the police station and the security men and the resident teachers were arrested and investigation was ongoing to possibly fish out the culprits.
Some of the schools visited have the challenges of cracked walls and leaking roofs which pose danger to the students in one hand and hinder effective teaching and learning to take place on the other. A case in point is Edjeba College, Warri. At College of Commerce, Warri, there are not enough teachers to teach the students as many of them idle away while at school.
For effective work to take place, it is expedient for the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education headed by Hon. Commissioner, Mrs. Rose Ezewu to visit the various schools to know the area of needs as this would make the Ministry work expediently. Other schools visited include : Dom Domingos College, Edjeba Warri, Dore Numa College, Ighogbadu Secondary School, among others.
The administrators of the affected schools across the state appealed to the state government to employ security men both for day and night, raise the school fence while the ones without fence before now, should be fenced in order to secure already provided facilities in the schools.
Some said at present, they are the ones using vigilantes and community boys as security, which according to them, are on their payrolls, adding, they(Vigilantes/Community boys) are not enough to secure the schools.
Commenting on insecurity in schools across Delta State, the Board Chairman, Citizen Rights Concern Enhancement Initiative otherwise known as Human Rights Protection Congress, Pastor (Comrade) Edewor Egedegbe condemned the vandalization of governments’ property in the schools or elsewhere in the state saying, such act does not help the growth of the state. He charged Deltans to be conscious of their environment saying everyone should be security conscious as the government can not do it alone.
Pastor (Comrade) Edewor Egedegbe who is the Founding Executive Director, Value Rebirth and Empowerment Initiative and Director of Studies ,Value Rebirth Centre- LSD Leadership School, Delta State and Chairman, CEO Robby/Dee Global Security Ltd also called on the community leaders in their various domains to secure the property of the government to enable them serve the purpose for which the projects are meant in that area. He charged the various Principals of schools to liaise with community leaders to map out best ways to protect government’s property in their domains just as he warned those hoodlums perpetrating such crimes to desist from such before they are caught up with arms of the law.
He said:” Security is the business of everyone. We should be conscious of our environment, the security of governments’ property can not left for the government alone, we must play our roles to enable the government serve us better.”
Other Deltans who commented on the issue called on the Hon. Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Delta State, Mrs Rose Ezewu to swing into action by ensuring that the schools in the state having challenges especially that of insecurity is solved to enable the MORE Agenda which include education of the state government led by Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, not seen as lips service.