By Emeke Alexander
Delta State Government has closed down two ramshackle private schools operating in the Uvwie and Warri Council Areas of the state.
The state Commissioner for Primary Education, Chief Chika Ossai ordered the closure of the two schools in continuation of his visits to both public and private schools across in the second term of the 2021/2022 academic session.
Chief Ossai and his entourage were accompanied on the inspection visit by the Chief Inspectors of Education CIE’s for Uvwie Local Government Area, Mrs Jane Awoyinka and her Warri South counterpart, Prince Theophilus Alekwe.
The two schools shut down by the state Commissioner for Primary Education, Chief Chika Ossai were Covenant Academy, Ekpan in Uvwie Local Government Area and Dick’s Freedom School Academy, situated in the Okere area of Warri South.
The two privately owned ramshackle schools were also operating without approval by the Delta State Government.
Both Julian Osondu who runs Covenant Academy, Ekpan and Mrs Rita Kubeyinje operating Dick’s Freedom School Academy, Warri, admitted before the Commissioner that they were operating far below standard.
Chief Ossai in ordering the closure of the two schools urged parents to be mindful of where they admit their children for learning.
The Commissioner for Primary Education at Emmatoyos Academy on Ighogbadu road, Warri, gave the owner up the end of March this year to lease with the Inspectorate Department of the Ministry to fulfil all requirements that will enable her to continue to operate the school.
Other schools visited by the Commissioner for Primary Education were Urhobo Model Primary School, Effurun, Eyabugbe Primary School, Ugborikoko, Elevado Schools, Ugborikoko, Seat of Wisdom Model Schools, Ekpan, Word of Faith Schools, Effurun and Edulyn Schools, Ekpan.
Also were Redeemer’s Sure Foundation School, Warri, Bunmi Schools, Warri, Jesse International School, Warri and Nana Model Primary Schools.
Chief Ossai expressed satisfaction with the things he observed in some of the schools he visited particularly the private ones that have very conducive environments for teaching and learning.
He noted that in the public schools visited the teachers were up and doing except for the reoccurring incidence of vandalism of the schools’ property.
To this end, the Commissioner for Primary Education canvassed strongly on the need for the Head Teachers and CIE’s to have close talks with leaders of the host communities including the Parent-Teacher Associations PTA’s for them to assist in curbing the ugly trend.
Chief Ossai during the inspection visits also reminded the management of the schools of the directive of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa on the compulsory participation of their schools in the next edition of the Principal and Headmaster football competitions.
He commended the CIE’s for Uvwie and Warri South for their good understanding of the environment they operate urging other CIE’s to emulate them.
