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By Young Erhiurhoro, Warri
As part of efforts to provide security for students and staff of Girls Model Secondary School, Evwreni in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State, parents and guardians of students in the school levied themselves to mend part of the school fence that was broken during the past flooding season.
Our correspondent gathered that at a recent emergency Parents/Teachers Association (PTA) meeting held at the school premises, the parents and staff of the school deliberated on issues confronting the school, especially those of security and health.
In a chat with the school principal, Mrs. Harriet Avworhokai, after the meeting, she said, “As a model school which is running both day and boarding system, we are faced with a lot of challenges on daily basis. For instance, part of the school fence was recently washed away by the past flood.
“This is why the parents/guardians of our students took it upon themselves to contribute money to mend the broken fence. They have done that to support government efforts and to also protect their own children. I must commend them for this great assistance. Parents here are really supportive of our administration.
“Another challenge we are facing at the moment is bad nature of the school internal roads/parts. Though the contract was awarded by the NDDC through the efforts of the former EDP, Engr. Chief Samuel Adjogbe, who is from the host community, but the project is abandoned at the moment. It’s now very difficult to even pass the roads with vehicles or motorcycles because of the sand.
“I want to appeal to the present management of the NDDC to come and complete the project for us. The roads are very important for our use. We want to also draw the attention of the Delta State government to the dilapidated state of many of the classroom blocks, hostels and laboratories. In a school like this, these buildings ought to be renovated as fast as possible by government to create a conducive learning atmosphere for our children. We are begging the government and good spirited individuals to come to our aid,” she said.
One of the parents told our correspondent, “We shouldn’t be deceived that education is free in Delta State. We are paying so much ranging from the boarding fee of N40, 000.00 and other many sundry expenses per term. As if that is not enough, the government that is collecting these monies blatantly refused to attend to the essential needs of children in the school; to such an extent where we now tax ourselves to mend broken fence.
“I also discovered that there is no clinic in the school. All they have as a clinic is only in the papers just to siphon money from the government. Minor feverish conditions, parents would be hurriedly called to take their children/wards to hospitals. This is uncalled for after paying such huge amount of money each term. To me, I’m against this contribution to mend school fence. Delta State government should live up to her civil and political responsibilities to the people of the state.”
Chairman of the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) of the school could not be reached for his comments as at the time of filing in this report.
