Controversy Trails Handover of Schools to Missions in Abia

 

You will recall that the state government had on Friday, Sept. 14, handed over 19 secondary schools to their original owners.

Gov. Theodore Orji, had during the ceremony, said that the transition of the schools to their original owners would be gradual.

Orji said that the certificates issued to the missions for the takeover of the schools were temporary as government would watch how they would operate the schools for one year.

According to reports, an air of apprehension now hung over the members of staff.

Some of the teachers at the Girls Secondary School (Holy Rosary) in Umuahia North Local Government Area of the State told reporters on condition of anonymity, that they were still at loss as what would become their fate.

The situation is worse at Girls High School, Umueze, Umuahia North Local Government Area of the state following the insistence of the beneficiaries for immediate and complete take-over.

Delegates from the Methodist Church had on Wednesday stormed the school and requested the school principal to hand-over.

An eye witness reports that ``the principal told them to give her some days to prepare her hand over note, but they refused.

``They even came with a mason, who was seen erecting a part of the school fence that had fallen down”, the witness said.

Reports say that a new signboard that reads ``Methodist Church Nigeria, School System, Methodist Girls High School' had been mounted in front of the schools' premises.

When contacted, Mrs J.E. Iroham, principal of the school, declined comment on the development.

But Mrs Monica Phillips, Abia State Commissioner for Education, confirmed the incident at the Girls High School.

``We have heard the confrontation by the Methodist Church. Such is expected and we are equal to the task.

``We are looking out for such problems and as they come, we tackle them,'' she said.

Phillips said that there was no ambiguity in the policy of hand over of the schools as ``the terms are clear''.

``If they say, they don’t want the principal, then let them bring whoever they want. We shall continue to pay the staff,'' Phillips said.