LAGOS OCTOBER 10TH (URHOBOTODAY)-Students of Alaka Grammar School, Ozoro, headquarters of Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State Wednesday marched through the streets of the community protesting the state of neglect of the school by the state government.
A similar protest by some parents and students had last month, taken place in Asaba, the state capital, over the closure of the Government Model Primary School, GRA, Asaba, during the inauguration of the Education Special Marshals.
The students said since the school is the only government-owned secondary school left in the community, the state government must ensure that adequate infrastructures as well as an atmosphere conducive for learning are provided.
They complained about the dilapidated buildings and furniture in the school, saying that since the school is the only one their parents could afford to send them to, the government might as well ensure that they too enjoy some dividends of democracy.
The students, numbering about 50, eventually ended up at the palace of HRM Anthony Ogbogbo, Ibuka 1, to table their grievances against the state government.
The protesting students said when the state government embarked on the renovation of the Anglican Girls Grammar School (AGGS) and the Notre Dame College (NDC) in Ozoro, which were handed over to the missionaries, the Emmanuel Uduaghan-led government did not renovate the only government-owned public secondary school in the area as the state government knows that majority of the parents in the community could not afford the school fees charged in the missionary schools.
“Alaka Grammar School structure is so decayed, we don’t have learning desks and the environment we found ourselves is not conducive for learning. Yet, our governor is here renovating schools for the missionaries that the children of the common man cannot even afford. Any government who denies any child the right to education is not a government but big failure,” one of the protesting students said.
The students, who made some uncomplimentary remarks about the state government, threatened to go on hunger strike until the Uduaghan government do the right thing that would make the school conducive for learning.
A parent, who described the development as inhuman, stated that such things only happens where government without a human face exists such as the Delta State government, adding that “Majority of the so called renovated schools in the state have been given back to the missionaries. As a result, our children are suffering, because we cannot afford the charges of the missionary schools and the only school children from poor homes could attend are left in shambles. So what kind of government is that?”
Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, had during last month’s protest by parents and pupils over the closure of Government Model Primary School, GRA, warned parents to desist from using their wards in any form of protest in the state, adding that it is not in the best interest of the children to be used for protests neither is it the right way to bring up a child.
He further charged the pupils to avoid being incited by their parents and teachers to carry out protests, admonishing the parents to stop misleading their wards at this tender age to start carrying placards and start protesting, stressing that “it is not good for education and it is not the best way to bring up your children.”
Source: Saharareporters