BENIN CITY – The Edo State Government has ordered the reopening of cult-infested Ihogbe and Oba Akenzua secondary schools in Benin City.
A statement from the Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor, Comrade Ebomhiana Musa stated that the state Deputy Governor, Rt Hon Comrade Philip Shaibu made the pronouncement, following the report presented to him by a committee put in place by government,to find lasting solutions to the incessation clashes amongst students of the two schools.
The committee, headed by Commissioner for Education, Hon. Emmanuel Agbale comprises of nominees from the Catholic community, the state police command, old students associations of both schools and the host community was inaugurated in March this year at the peak of the cult clashes in the schools.
Following the presentation of the preliminary report, the Deputy Governor directed the Education Commissioner and his committee to meet with all stakeholders before end of this week preparatory to the formal reopening of the schools, Monday, July 1, 2019. He assured that ” I will be there myself physically to witness it.”
After the screening exercise and profiling of students, the committee recommended that:
1. A School Based Management Committee (SBMC) comprising of all stakeholders be set up for the two schools to take full ownership.
2. Activities of Man O’ War and Cadets be suspended forthwith in the schools.
3. Heads of the two schools (Principals) be redeployed and techears who have over stayed be redeployed to other schools in the state.
4. Need to have adequate security presence in and around the schools’ premises
5. The 15 per cent of the students who failed to show up for the screening be given a second çhance when the schools fully resume.
These recommendations were all affirmed by the state government. The Deputy Governor however added that the academic calendar for the two schools be adjusted to enable the students cover lost ground following their forceful closure.
