FGC Nise: Parents, Alumni Divided over Students’ Learning Condition

Parents of the Federal Government College, Nise, Anambra State recently protested the deplorable condition under which their children learn, but the alumni association of the school believes the petition was fabricated. David-Chyddy Eleke wonders if the students are learning good morals in deplorable environment

There have been complaints by parents of students of the Federal Government College, Nise against the Principal of the school, Dr. Ijeoma Ekumankama, over the deplorable state under which students live and learn in the school.

The parents accused the principal of extortion from parents; diversion of funds for the construction of a magnificent building for herself; shabby management of students’ health condition; deplorable condition of hostels; and intimidation of parents to stop them from speaking up about their wards’ conditions.

Attempts by THISDAY last Friday to gain access into the school compound to assess the state of infrastructure was rebuffed by security men, who said the school was on break as students were away on mid-term break, leading to the absence of the principal. Meanwhile, a petition signed by Concerned Parents to the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, over the condition of their wards in the school, which was made available to THISDAY, showed dilapidated infrastructures in the institution, and several allegations against the principal.

The parents alleged the maltreatment of their children, describing their children as being in prison under Ekumankama, while calling for an urgent intervention by the minister. The petition, which was also copied to the Senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial District, Uche Ekwunife read in parts: “Our children are presently living in overcrowded hostels with maggot-infested overflowing toilets. The Principal, Mrs. Ekumankama defiantly refused to improve these children’s living conditions despite all the resources channelled in by the PTA. The children are malnourished, due to very poor feeding in the school, despite support, with provisions by the parents, and these happen under the principal’s watch. The hostels and dining of these children are worst than prison. They are so overcrowded with a population of about 2,200 students.”

They also accused the principal of channelling support made available to the school by the parents for their children’s welfare to building a mansion for herself, stating that rather than punish students for wrongdoings as a deterrent, the principal imposes fines on them, which are borne by the parents. A parent told THISDAY that “sometime last year, I was asked to provide money for blocks, because my daughter allegedly scaled the school fence. I asked why I should provide that, instead of the school authority flogging the child so she can realise her mistake, but they told me they had work at hand and needed the blocks.

“Other parents who I complained to about it told me that it has been the same thing, and that since Ekumankama came, the school has always been about levies. Another parent, who said her child was sickly, said despite the levies the parents pays, students are only given painkillers when they fall sick. The woman, who was visibly annoyed, said her only consolation was that her daughter would soon graduate from the school, so no need creating enmity and endangering her daughter who had less than a year to stay there as at that time.”

When THISDAY reached out to Ekumankama by phone for her reactions to the petition by the parents, she reneged, insisting that she was a civil servant and didn’t have the powers to speak to the media. She referred our correspondent to the Federal Ministry of Education, saying that any enquiries can be channelled to them.

Meanwhile, old students of the college, under the aegis of Concerned Alumni of FGC, Nise have described the petition as a campaign of calumny targeted against their alma mater and the principal.

The group in a statement signed by Mr. Chinedu Aniagboso, said it received with shock the publication on petition entitled ‘Save the Soul of Our Children’, saying that it was sponsored by one Kenenna Obiatuegwu. They expressed worry about the damage the publication would do, not only to the management, but the institution which has nurtured great minds for 26 years now and still counting.

Part of their statement read: “We wish to state that just as the case in most government owned institutions, FGC Nise has its own infrastructural challenges which to the best of our knowledge are being genuinely addressed. We will not allow anyone to malign and ridicule the school or its management in the name of pursuing personal vendetta.

“Therefore, we clarify that the infrastructure and amenities in the school were inherited by the current management and based on our findings, the management has demonstrated genuine efforts and commitment towards making them better. The pictures and videos used in depicting the state of affairs (shown on the social media) were taken at a time the facility was undergoing maintenance and so, no longer valid as the facilities have been fixed. Under the current administration, collapsed e-library was reconstructed, JS1 boys and girls hostels were tiled and painted, 12 classrooms comprising JS3 and SS3 installed with ceiling fans and painted.

“Embankment was constructed on five block of classrooms to check erosion on the structures, a new principal’s house was built, and a modern gate house was constructed, the dining hall was tiled and painted while the school toilet seats and bathrooms were repaired and new ones built. A number of other projects were also executed including construction of drainages in the hostels, installation of solar-powered street lights on strategic areas, construction of school pavilion, completion of Home Economics Department among others.

“The petitioner’s niece was admitted without paying a dime even when she did not meet the cut off mark, this makes his claim of admission sale surprising,” it stated.

The group called on the federal government to increase funding to the school to enable management to meet the educational and facility needs of the school, while appreciating the the capital projects and intervention projects funded through the annual national budget.

Also, the PTA Chairman and Secretary of the school, Dr. Chinasa Iloabueke and Mr. Chris Obichukwu, and five other members of the executive, described the allegations as unfounded and distanced the association from it. The association said it is working assiduously within the limits of available resources towards improving the learning and living conditions of students and exonerated the principal of allegedly meddling with PTA funds.

“We hereby categorically disassociate the PTA from the publication which contained unfounded allegations. The present PTA executive has been working tirelessly in partnership with the college management and the government in upgrading the facilities in the college. Since we came on board, the entire SS2 girls’ hostel and all the adjoining corridors connecting it with SS1 girls’ gostel have been tiled, the students’ dining hall has also been tiled in partnership with the college. Renovation works at the SS3 boys’ hostel toilets are ongoing, ceilings in some classrooms were replaced also in partnership with the college and PTA has never signed any cheque in favour of the principal.

“The government runs a Remitta account and no federal government ministry maintains a bank account and the PTA is duly represented in the SBMC. The continued and unwarranted attack on the principal and by extension the PTA executive is misguided and vindictive. The principal of the college has been a lady of very strong character and a disciplinarian par excellence. The college under her leadership has witnessed a meaningful transformation in areas of infrastructure and discipline with visible transformation. Consequent upon the above, we pray the Federal Ministry of Education to disregard the frivolous petition against the principal. Indeed, some of the allegations are laughable,” the body stated.

Investigations by THISDAY however showed that some vocal members of the PTA have been severally intimidated into silence by the principal of the institution. One of the parents who sent WhatsApp messages to our correspondent on condition of anonymity, said Ekumankama has threatened to deal with any parent who dares to speak up against her, stating that upon her agitation for improved infrastructure in the school, in which she also posted the dilapidated state of infrastructure on social media, she has received a call from DSS Office in Awka warning her to desist from such or risk arrest. “I am bringing this to the media because the future of our children are at stake. The minister of education must act.”

At the time of filing this report, there was no reaction from the minister.