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By Young Erhiurhoro, Warri
Parents and guardians whose children/wards are in public model and boarding schools in Delta State have called on the state governor, Sen. Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, to remove boarding fees for public schools across the state especially now that economic hardship is telling hard on many Nigerians as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as the ravaging floods that have destroyed farms and properties of residents in the Niger-Delta region.
Speaking to our correspondent during chats with some of the parents/guardians in Ughelli and environs, Mr. Morrison Edafe, a teacher and also a parent said, “We the parents of children in model and boarding schools in the state are begging our governor to remove fees of boarding schools to enable us afford the fees.
“As you already know, this year is a very significant year with so many challenges confronting humanity, especially we the average and common people in the country. To start with, the problem of Covid-19 pandemic, which is still terrorizing us till today; many people lost their jobs and many families are thrown into pain and agonies at the moment. At present, our economy is dwindling and it has adversely affected our GDP already.
“As if that is not enough, as we speak, we are at the moment contending with the effects of the ravaging flood. It has added to our economic woes in the country. Many people lost their farms and properties worth millions of naira. I’m a practical and living example of the flood victims. I lost many of my cassava farms to the destructive flood. In my community today, so many people are begging to eat and those people too, have children in these schools. The government must know that all fingers are not equal economically or otherwise.”
Going further, the grassroots politician from Unenurhie community said, “As a result of these economic confrontations, we as parents and guardians are battling with, we want to appeal to our governor to critically look into these economic challenges we are facing, to better remove school fees for us to help calm our nerves because of lack of money. Since schools across the country including Delta State have resumed, we can’t allow our children to sit at home. The government should do this to support us and to also support educational development of the state. I think it’s a lasting legacy in the educational sector if the governor can consider and implement this support as soon as possible,” he said.
Also speaking, a teacher in Girls Model Secondary School, Evwreni in Ughelli North Local Government Area of the state who didn’t want her name in print said, “Since this school has resumed, the population of students here are drastically low. Secondly, we also discovered that many of the parents whose children are in boarding system are now changing to day system. All these boil down to lack of money.
“In my own case too, I’m a civil servant and we know what civil servants are passing through in this country. Will I force my children out of school because there’s no money? The answer is no. This is why as a parent I’m also joining all those that are pleading with the state governor to remove boarding fees from public schools especially from this new academic session to be a kind of relief and support to parents in the state.
“I believe if the state governor can to do this to assuage the economic hardship of parents, those of their children that are still at home will resume immediately. Education is very expensive here and that is why it’s a national priority. The government should support to make education accessible to every child in this country. It’s our children’s rights to acquire good and meaningful education in the country. Without government support, it’s very difficult especially for the commoners and the less privileged ones to acquire good education in Nigeria,” she said.
Efforts to speak to the Chief Inspector of Education (CIE) of Ughelli North LGA over this issue of removing boarding fees from public schools in the state proved abortive as his phone lines were switched off.
