I greet and specially welcome all our respected guests to this stakeholder’s forum town hall meeting. That you are here shows the love you have for your community and education.
I bring warm greetings from our Head of Service Dr. Mrs. Mininim Osegi who is one of the brain behind this programme. Her passion since she ascended the office as Delta State Head of service is to ensure effective public service delivery, propelling us to tackle whatever would stand as an impediment yo the smooth running of our schools.
I appreciate ANCOPSS, Zonal Director, The PPEB headquarters Asaba and all who have contributed in one way or the other towards this program. Thank you.
I bring you good will from the Hon. Commissioner for Secondary Education Mrs. Rose Ezewu, PPEB Chairman Prof. E. Tibi, PS PPEB headquarters Mrs. Mabel Ekpenisi, 1st member PPEB Chief Oyibororo.
There is no doubt that His Excellency Rt. Hon. (Elder) Sheriff Oborevwori led government is doing so much in all spheres of development under human capital development, school have benefited immensely in area such as construction of solar powered computer laboratories, supply of science equipment to schools construction of classrooms, perimeter fencing, prompt payment of workers salaries and lots more.
However, it is sad to mention that the increasing cases of theft, Vandalisation and unwanted destruction of school infrastructure and insecurity challenges is causing serious setback to the schools and government.
It is like one step forward and two steps backward. If things continue unchecked students will suffer and society pays for it.
One key function of secondary education is to raise transformed, productive and useful citizens equipped with adequate skills. According to the National policy of Education in Nigeria among others include;
1.Develop responsible and socially well-adjusted students.
Promote acceptance and respect for all people
Enhance enjoyment in learning
Identify individual talents and develop them e.g sports
Prepare children and students for useful living within the society.
Prepare students for academic pursuit.
Prepare students for useful living within the society and Higher Education.
Provide students with basic knowledge and skills for entrepreneurship and educational advancement.
Develop patriotic young people equipped to contribute to social development performance of their civil responsibilities include values, knowledge, skills and right attitudes.
The summary is that Secondary Education is critical for proper development of the student.
However sadly to mention, what is on ground is far cry from what was intended, indiscipline among students in on the increase and growing by day. Indiscipline of all shades ranging from in attentiveness, noise making, loitering while lessons are on, refusal to copy note, rudeness to teachers, some more serious cases are increasing incident of theft and wilful Vandalisation of school infrastructure, the menace of using cell phones to distract lessons and disrupt lessons, fighting last day of exam episode of knock out and lots more. Indiscipline among students has been found to be responsible for students wastage in schools.
It contravene and goes contrary against the objectives of secondary school Education. Indiscipline among students is a major challenges faced by school administrators. It depicts lack of self control, self restraints a product of parental failure unacceptable values, an outright blatant violation of school rules and regulation.
Ladies and gentlemen, government alone cannot do everything.
Having provided these amenities to our school, the community should braise up to ensure the safety of our school properties. Last session in one of the schools 15 iron doors were pulled out and taken out of the school within a week by Hoodlums.
In one other school, their computer laboratories were vandalized leaving the student with nothing to practice. I wish to draw your attention that most examination bodies are embracing CBT – Computer Based Test – WAEC, JAMB, NECO.
This is more reason for this outcry for us to come together and proffer solutions.
The menance of cell phones usage in schools is serious – teachers’ buttock are snapped and posted while coping noted on the board, some student watch corrupt films in class, initiate others into criminal use of the cell phone. These traits do not augur well for society.
While we agree that the phone has numerous benefits, we must however come up with a benchmark and decision to avoid abuse of these facilities.
During holidays some villagers carry school furniture to use as firewood, teachers are insulted, threatened and beaten by parents, students and cultists in their bid to enforce discipline.
These things should not be so and should not continue. This is why we have called for this town hall stakeholders forum to start the way forward. When all these facilities and destroyed the younger generation will suffer for it.
Highlights;
The focus of this town hall/stakeholders forum is to tackle the following problems which are disrupting effective teaching and learning activities in public secondary schools in Delta Central.
Increasing incident of Vandalisation amd theft of school infrastructure, facilities and amenities such as computer laboratories, science equipments and wilful destruction of school furniture and buildings
Menace caused by the misuse of cell phones in schools by students.
Deviant unruly behaviour among Students – fighting, jumping school fence, drug abuse, cultism and sexual offence.
Growing hostility between teachers and parents over the indiscipline of their children.
Security challenges in schools, insecurity looms everywhere creating fear and apprehension in school community.
Herein lies the purpose of this meeting. Once again I welcome you all and look forward to a fruitful deliberation.
Thanks once again and remain blessed
