- As DTSG Reads Riot Act
BY JUMAI NWACHUKWU
Delta State Commissioner for Secondary Education, Mrs Rose Ezewu has issued a stern warning to students and individuals involved in acts of vandalism in schools across the state.
Ezewu said this when she visited Oruchi Comprehensive High School to monitor the level of turnout from teachers and students. It was however reported that the laboratory section of the school was vandalized by unidentified persons who came in through the roof of the building.
Reacting to the situation, Ezewu expressed deep concern over the rising cases of school vandalism, stressing that such behaviour threatens the state’s efforts to provide a conducive learning environment for children.
The commissioner emphasized that vandalism not only undermines government efforts to improve education infrastructure but also hinders students’ academic progress, stressing that whoever is caught would be prosecuted.
“We cannot continue to tolerate the destruction of facilities meant to support learning. The perpetrators of such acts will face strict sanctions,” she said.
She urged school administrators to take proactive steps in safeguarding facilities, including installing surveillance systems and fostering student awareness programs about the negative impact of vandalism.
Ezewu assured the public that measures are being put in place to prevent future incidents and ensure that every child in the state has access to quality education in a secure environment.
The commissioner called on parents to play an active role in curbing the menace by instilling discipline in their children. “It is a shared responsibility. Parents must ensure their wards understand the value of public property and the consequences of damaging it,” Ezewu added.
Meanwhile, the Principal of Oruchi Comprehensive Secondary School, Mrs Theresa Ofuesia, expressed shock at the state of the school upon resumption, noting that several properties had been vandalized. Items damaged included windows, burglary proofing, laboratory equipment, and ceiling fans.
According to her, “The security personnel caught one person, identified as a Hausa boy inside the laboratory a day after the incident. When interrogated, he denied being part of the operation. The case is currently with the police, but the boy’s father has promised to pay for all the damages caused.”
