Principals of Our Lady’s Model Girls High School and Urhobo Model College, both in Effurun have been removed and posted to secondary schools in Asaba as classroom teachers for illegal collections and disobedience to constituted authorities.

This was disclosed in Effurun by the State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Professor Patrick Muoboghare when he met with the Uvwie Traditional Council in the Palace of the Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom.

Professor Muoboghare said that he took the decision to bring sanity into the schools as well as serve as deterrent to others who believe that they could flout the directives of the ministry with impunity.

He stated that that era of treating erring school heads and recalcitrant teachers with kid gloves was over and therefore called on those involved in such nefarious acts to desist forthwith in their own interest.

The commissioner appealed to the Ovie-in- Council to take a second look at the situation of things in both primary and secondary schools in Effurun and its environs concerning indiscipline amongst the pupils and students, stressing that if nothing was done to curb their excesses, it would be difficult to have teachers to remain and teach in schools in the area.

Professor Muoboghare equally called on parents and guardians to show interest in the well-being of their children and wards, saying they had a very big role to play in moulding their characters instead of leaving everything in the hands of the teachers.

Responding, the Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom, HRH Emmanuel Sideso Abe 1, appealed to the state government to take full possession of the large expanse of land donated to Ekpan Basic School by chasing away the miscreants who had turned part of the school premises to their abode thereby constituting security risks to the school and its environs.

While assuring the commissioner of their support to the policies of the state government, the Ovie appealed to the ministry to award contracts to reputable contractors that would put up structures that could stand the test of time.

In his brief remark, the President General of Uvwie Development Union, Chief Saturday Onoge accused some principals of public schools in Uvwie of collecting illegal levies before admitting children to their schools and therefore appealed to the Commissioner to take decisive action against such characters.

***TEACHERS URGED TO GROOM FUTURE LEADERS

Teachers have been told to be agent of change so as to be able produce well groomed future leaders.

This appeal was made at Umunede by the State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Professor Patrick Muoboghare who paid an unscheduled visit to Ede Grammar School, Umunede in Ika North East Local Government Area.

Professor Muoboghare said that the primary mandate of the teachers was to mould the child who, on his or her first day in the school was timid but with time was expected to acquire new knowledge and skills from the teachers.

He therefore advised teachers to carry out their duties conscientiously so that they would be able to produce children that would stand on their own in the future.

The commissioner appealed to some teachers in the school who were always late to work to have a change of heart in their own interest, saying that ministry would not hesitate to sanction them if they continued in the act.

Professor Muoboghare directed the two Principals, Mr. B.C. Iheme and Mrs. Georgina Akpovi to ensure that the sports field was cleared of weeds immediately.

He equally admonished the Youth Corpers serving in the school to dress properly to school and ensure that they teach their lessons without fail.

The Commissioner however expressed happiness with the Home Economics teacher for preparing students that could bake cake and prepare a variety of snacks.

***CONDUCT OF NECO EXAM COMMENDED

The State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Professor Patrick Muoboghare has commended the orderly conduct of the on-going November/December 2011 National Examination Council examination (Private Candidates) in Agbor centres.

Professor Muoboghare made this commendation at Agbor during the monitoring of the examination at Gbenoba Grammar School, Agbor where he observed orderliness of the candidates in the centre.

He stated that orderly conduct was a sign that the fight against examination malpractice in the state was gaining ground and therefore appealed to those that had not yet keyed into it to embrace the new order for a better education system.

The Commissioner reiterated the determination of the ministry to wipe out the cankerworm from the education system, stressing that the ministry would continue the fight until menace was totally eliminated.

Professor Muoboghare equally used the occasion to appeal to stakeholders, such as school heads, teachers and parents to support the ministry in the crusade so that there would be no doubt in accepting certificates obtained from conducted examinations.

The Special Assistant to the Commissioner, Chief Jonathan Erekata and other officers from the ministry accompanied the commissioner during the monitoring exercise.