Sylvester Idowu in Warri
The Chairman of Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State, Dr. Micheal Tidi, has decried the rate of cultism in primary and secondary schools in the state.
Tidi also decried the rate primary school properties were being destroyed when people use the facilities for social events.
He made these observations yesterday when the Chief Inspector of Education (CIE), Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Warri South Local Government, Dr. Samson Ugbejeh, and his entourage paid him a courtesy visit at the council’s secretariat, Warri.
Tidi said that it is high time the ministry, in collaboration with the council, stopped the trends noting that the council could no longer fold its arm and watch while school children in primary and secondary schools involve themselves in cult activities.
He argued that the ministry of Basic and Secondary Education should work in collaboration with the council to curb the menace of cultism.
On the issue of the destruction of school properties by those who use the facilities for social events, Tidi appealed to the CIE to reduce the way the school properties were used for social events.
The chairman blamed community leaders, especially youth leaders, for the menace, stressing that all community leaders are duty bound to protect school properties in their communities.
He said: “There is a trend that is going on in our schools that is giving me sleepless nights. This issue of cultism in our schools is a serious problem and we have to do something about it.
“During our time there was nothing like cultism in our schools. This is becoming worrisome and we are going to involve security agents to arrest any student found engaging in cult activity.
“I am surprised that these days, students gather themselves together to beat up their teachers. We cannot allow this trend to continue. Today people are destroying our facilities in our schools. If you want to hold any social events, you should go and rent a hall. There are a lot of halls which you can use for social events.
“To address these issues, we have to speak to parent and community leaders. They should know that they owe it as a duty to protect these facilities. Let’s see how we can discourage it. I have been to schools in one occasion and I saw the way they destroy facilities in the schools, and I was not pleased.”
The CIE, Dr. Samson Ugbejeh, said that he was at the chairman’s office to introduce himself to him as the new CIE of Warri South Local Government Area.
He said that he was also at the office to discuss how the ministry could collaborate with the Warri South council to improve education in the council.
Ugbejeh congratulated Tidi for the wonderful work he has been doing in the council since he assumed office, adding that as a young man the chairman has been able to raise the bar in the administration of local government.
He said: “I want to appreciate you, Chairman for the wonderful work you are doing in this council. I just resumed office about two weeks ago and I know that the first person I needed to visit is the chairman of the council.
“We are here to see how we can partner with the council on how to move the education sector forward. We can only achieve this if we synergize and put our hands together.”
Those on the entourage of the Chief Inspector of Education included Mrs Onokohwamo Oghale, Deputy CIE/Assistant Director, Mr Alufa Paul, Assistant Director, and Mrs Alero Dede, Education Officer I.
