The Delta State Government has announced the immediate closure of Ogume Grammar School, Ogume in Ndokwa West Local Government Area of the state till further notice following the activities of some miscreants in the community who set the school ablaze on October 14, 2021.
The state Commissioner for Secondary Education, Mrs Rose Ezewu and the member representing Ndokwa West Constituency in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Charles Emetulu, who is the House committee chairman on education disclosed this in Asaba during a meeting held with the leaders of the Ogume community.
Mrs Ezewu said that the decision of the state government to order the closure of the school was in the best interest of the community and the state in general.
She said it was important that the safety of teachers and students of the school, was guaranteed adding that the entire structure and learning materials in the school were destroyed.
While calling on the community to unravel the perpetrators of the crime in order to prosecute them, the Commissioner urged leaders and stakeholders in the community to show genuine commitment towards rebuilding the school.
She warned parents in the community to desist from taking their children to other schools in the area for admission as a result of the shutdown of the school as they may not be accepted.
She disclosed that the principal that was severely beaten up by the hoodlums has been discharged from the hospital.
The member representing Ndokwa West Constituency in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Charles Emetulu who frowned at the unwholesome attitude of the miscreants added that there was no longer any structure for learning following the razing of the school.
Hon. Emetulu who described the incident as unfortunate said that the school was one of the best equipped secondary schools in the area with modern science laboratory and ICT centre as well as teaching and learning materials.
He urged the community to exhibit genuine intention towards fixing the destroyed facilities, stressing that the communities should protect public properties in their area.
In their separate remarks, the representative of the Okpala-Uku of Ogbe-Ogume community, His Royal Eminence, Dr Valentine Akpati the chairman of the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) for the school, Chief Emeka Ogeleka and the chairman of Ogbe-Ogume Community Development Committee, Chief Kenneth Ogeleka pledged the community’s resolve to contribute in rebuilding the school, adding that the community was not happy with the activities of the miscreants who destroyed the institution.
