The Abia State Ministry of Education, Thursday, organized a one day education stakeholders summit to address some educational issues and the menace of cult activities both primary and secondary schools in the State.
The summit also followed a call for a concerted effort for all and sundry to join hands to demand an education that will develop knowledge and creativity, innovations and enterprise, civic and democratic values, skills and abilities as well as the awareness needed for everyday and professional life.
The Abia State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu represented by his Deputy, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu in his speech at the summit which took place at the Michael Okpara auditorium Umuahia, described the theme of the event as apt and timely, bearing in mind that our society is becoming a violent one with killings, armed robbery, kidnapping, herdsmen, Boko Haram, banditry and rape on the increase and warned any person or groups encouraging such unwholesome behaviour to desist from doing so for a better tomorrow.
The Governor also called on parents, care givers, churches, traditional rulers and especially the National Drug Law Enforcement Agencies to help in the fight against peddling and consumption of hard drugs, pointing out that most heinous crimes are committed under the influence of drugs.
He expressed confidence that the Summit will come out with meaningful and applicable resolution that will bring to an end or reduce cultism in schools and the society.
Gov. Ikpeazu reaffirmed his administration’s resolve to maintain the State leading position in WAEC and other external examinations conducted in the country and beyond through the formation and implementation of robust policies that encourages and uplifts the standard of education moral upbringing of our children.
The Governor who noted that quality education play very important role in the development of any State or Nation, decried the infiltration of cultism into primary and secondary schools as a hydra headed monster.
He stressed the need for a close watch into the moral upbringing of the children at home and the schools to avoid having a state of anarchy in the nearest future.
In his keynote address, the State Commissioner For Education, Dr. Kanelechi Nwangwa acknowledged the role of the present administration in giving education a pride of place through value oriented policies.
He however blamed cultism in our primary and secondary schools on parents and society who have consistently neglected the National Policy on Education by putting too much pressure on their children and making them go to classes beyond their age and reasoning capacity, giving them the impression that the end justifies the means and other attitudes that do not augur well for the development of a child.
Similarly, the Chairman of the occasion Dr. (Mrs) Kate Ndubuka pointed out that the issue of cultism in our primary and secondary schools should be something of concern to every right thinking person as it potends great danger to the present and future generations.
She called on all to be alive to the duty of bringing up the children to be morally upright and urged participants to be serious with the summit in order to give back to children and the society.