[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Chairman of National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Delta State Chapter, Deacon Monday Ifoghere, has said the Commissioner for Basic Education, Delta State, Mr. Patrick Ukah, was quoted out of context by journalists, adding that the association supports the intended cleanup of private school business by the Delta State Government.

Ifoghere said this while responding to questions during an exclusive chat with newsmen .

Some online media platforms had reported that the Delta State Government was opposed to registration of new private schools in the state.

The Chairman said: “What the Commissioner said was that those schools that were given provisional approval and over the years have not been able to improve on their facilities would be shut down and that henceforth no provisional approval will be given to any school.”

According to him, this policy statement was an offshoot of their cries to him to do something about Illegal schools in the state.

He said: “We pay tax, levies and whenever the government wants anything they come to us, but at the end of the day, illegal school owners do nothing but just make profits.

“Let’s assume that we have 5000 schools in Delta State, more than 3000 are not approved. In a community where there are five approved schools, you have about 20 not approved that we can call illegal schools and these ones are making life miserable for the ones approved.

“What the commissioner actually said was in response to our cry to him for help to curb the trend of running illegal schools in the state. Private school owners also suffer multiple taxation. We have different government agencies coming to us to either pay for tenement rate or fire service or monies for Board of Internal revenue. Even now, the Ministry of Women Affairs is trying to claim ownership of Nursery schools so we can also pay money to them. They want to frustrate private school owners.”

He added: “According to the commissioner, a new school that is starting has just two years to get approved; and that the government will no longer allow a school to pick up a registration form, do nothing and start operating for as long as 10 years as an illegal school without approval.

“The Commissioner told us that he is working with the Directorate of Inspectorate to work out the modalities to see that all schools that have not followed the approval process steadily to a logical conclusion within the next few months will be asked to shut down and never open again.

“He did not say that new private schools will not be opened in Delta State again. He was quoted out of context. All he said was that illegal schools that are not doing anything about getting approved will be asked to stop operation.”

Schools he said could be shut include those in uncompleted buildings or a rented house, as he advised all school proprietors to work to move to their permanent site.

Speaking further, he said that those in dilapidated buildings are to put their structures in order to make it safe and healthier for pupils and students, adding that school owners must endeavour to employ qualified teachers and use the right curriculum to also avoid been shut down.

Continuing, he said some school owners have ramshackle structures and though have licenses they do not have pupils and students but only wait for examination period and have become only mere examination centres.

He urged such schools to wake up or wind down, noting that “if those with provisional approval are finding it difficult to exist then the ones that have not even been approved at all but have been in existence have a very slim chance to escape the wrath of the state government.”

Ifoghere continued: “In our meetings now we will tell our members the truth so they can be quick about coming up to standard, he stressed.

“For those that at least can meet up to the basic requirements, but cannot meet all of them, when we see their efforts, we will know what to do.”

He however opined that NAPPS as an association has majority of her members that are duly registered and approved.

By : Emeji  Noble

[dropcap]A[/dropcap]s the World celebrated this year’s World Teachers’ Day on Saturday,October 5, 2019, 12 teachers in Delta received cars and cash rewards for outstanding performance in their duties.

The state governor, Senator (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa, announced the rewards at a Dinner and Awards night organised by Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education in conjunction with Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) for teachers in the state.

Recipients of the awards were principals, head teachers and classroom teachers at primary and secondary school levels, who emerged from a selection process.

Okowa charged teachers not to only teach but develop the attitude and moral traits of  their pupils.

“I want to congratulate the awardees and to let them know that the reward of teachers is not only in heaven.

“This type of recognition will touch the hearts of our teachers and make them to work harder in the development of our children.

“The teachers, just like parents, play an important role in the development and upbringing of the child.

“We need to continue to give care to our children and guide them aright because it is at this foundational level that we can mould their character.

“We need to get the moral development of the children aright at this level, so that it will be well with our nation.” he said.

The governor urged the awardees to redouble their commitment to the upbringing of the pupils, reminding them that “teaching is a passion that genuinely flows from the heart”.

He commended Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education for organising the event and NUT for its tremendous support and partnership in improving the education sector in the state.

Earlier, Mr Patrick Ukah, Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, had in his speech, said that the awardees were selected from a process that involved over 49,000 teachers and students in 470 public secondary schools and 1,126 primary schools in the state.

He congratulated the awardees and said that the assessment was done and vetted by a team of academics drawn from various tertiary institutions in the country.

The awardees are Messrs Asanuvwe Elizabeth, Owumi Onome, Omotie Phoebe (Best Primary School Teachers); Oyemike  Andrew, Ogwara Gabriel, Esiedafe Doris (Best Head Teacher); Imarah Georgina, Eseimokumoh Charles, Ikeh Bridget ( Best Secondary school Teacher); and Ominiabohs Adeline, Adiri Jonathan, Okolafor Fidelis (Best Principal).

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Ohaneze Youth Council has accused officials of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) of extorting Igbo traders.
The group alleged that the NCS officials have been carrying out, relentless extortion and exploitation of Igbo traders
and businessmen in the country, particularly Lagos state.
The council stated that it is embittered by the rampant extortion, intimidation, and harassment of businessmen going
about their legitimate businesses.
The group led by Comrade Igboayaka O. Igboayaka, has also called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Assembly
to investigate the activities of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd) and his field officials in
the Lagos area over their alleged bid to strangulate Igbo businesses.
The group said the rot that has eaten deep into the very fabric of the NCS whose officials no longer hide their
inclination to extortion and corruption perpetrated especially against Igbo traders doing legitimate business.
It said through verified complaints, officials of the NCS has continued to request some undue and illegal levies from
Igbo importers as a condition for clearing goods.
“They also stop Igbo traders on the roadways and demand illegal fees. They employ the use of coercion, threats, closure
of shops and seizure of goods, to unlawfully extract money from their victims,” part of the statement read.
Recall that the group recently charged prominent Igbo leaders to unite and ensure the region gets presidency in 2023.

[dropcap]A[/dropcap] traditional ruler in Abule-Ado, Amuwo-Odofin Local government area of Lagos, Chief Muritala Akogun, has been killed by some hoodlums.
Chief Akogun died on Monday from the injury he suffered from the attacks by the thugs.
The Nation learnt that the late traditional ruler was attacked on Saturday and suffered deep machete cuts on his head, hands, and face.
Another resident who was severely injured in the fracas is said to still be receiving treatment at a hospital.
The late traditional ruler was recently installed as the Akogun of Ado kingdom.
He was said to have attempted to prevent some hoodlums who invaded the community from wreaking havoc, last Saturday before he was attacked.
The Nation learnt that the hoodlums came to avenge the beating of their colleague by some members of the community.
An eyewitness said a fire razed some shanties in Abule-Ado last Friday. While owners of the affected shanties were trying to salvage their property, some miscreants hijacked the situation and stole some of the property.
One of them was said to have been caught with a television set, which he was taking to his end.
Some of the residents, who were miffed by his action, reportedly beat him and collected the stolen television set from him.
But the hoodlum escaped and went to mobilise his members who invaded the community.
The late Akogun, who was at a naming at Shibiri, was said to have left the function for Abule-Ado, when informed of the incident.
He was said to have also put a call to one Lawal, said to be influential among the hoodlums.
According to the Otun of Ado, Afeez Olorunkemi, “the incident happened while Chief Akogun was pleading with Akeem Lawal to call his boys to order. He stood in front of Ado youth office when we sighted the hoodlums approaching. Since Lawal, their coordinator had assured us that there was no cause for alarm; we stayed back, unknown to us that they had a sinister motive. They got so close to us and started attacking us.
“When they launched their attack, Lawal simply walked straight to his vehicle and drove off without cautioning his boys.
“Another person, Prince Fasiu was attacked inside the toilet where he ran into for safety. Fasiu was hiding under the washing hand basin when one of the hoodlums attacked him and another victim. They were stabbed and macheted on different parts of their bodies.
“Chief Akogun and Prince Fasiu were later rushed to a private hospital. Unfortunately, Chief Akogun died in the early hours of yesterday, (Monday) as a result of the severe injuries he sustained, while doctors are still battling to save Fasiu.”
The Nation learnt some people have been arrested and transferred from Trade Fair Police Division to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, (SCIID), Panti, Yaba, Lagos Mainland.
•Text (excluding headline): The Nation.