By Egbe Attah
The Chairman, Parent Teacher Association (PTA), Benue State Chapter, Comrade Godwin Agbo, has restated the readiness of the Association to continue to partner with the state government to reposition education in the state.
Comrade Agbo, who made this known in a chat with The Voice in Otukpo, recently said, “the business of teaching and learning is enormous to be left in the hands of government alone. It is only with joint collaboration that education can be properly repositioned in the state.
“We the PTA will continue to work with the Benue State Government by contributing our quota to the development of education.
“We have provided manpower and infrastructure to schools among other engagements which have helped our educational institutions in no small measure.
“These, I pledge will continue, as it is only by so doing that the education sector be better placed,” he explained.
He commended the new regime in the state for adopting policies that would better the lot of teachers, especially, the prompt payment of salaries, elongation of service years and retirement age for teachers.
The PTA chairman however, implored the state government not to relent in its efforts and always involve the PTA and other partners such as Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), National Association of Private proprietors of Schools (NAPPS), All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), in the formation and implementation of education policies.
On the economic hardship occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy, the PTA chairman, who is also the national chairman of the Disciplinary Committee of the union, appealed to the Fr Hyacinth Alia -led government to assist parents and their wards in the reduction of school fees and registration of external examinations such as WAEC and NECO.
He further requested that any incentives enjoyed by government schools should be extended to private ones, saying the learners are all children of Benue.
While frowning at the proliferation of schools in the state, Comrade Agbo advised the government to establish Private School Management Board, which should, among other things, be saddled with the responsibility of checkmating the mushrooming of learning centres in the state.
“I would also want to use this opportunity to advise my fellow parents to keep close watch on their children to ward off delinquencies.
“I’m also telling our children to use this holiday to assist their parents, read their books and shun all forms of social vices,” he maintained.
