The Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa-led administration in Delta State, has charged Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), and other stakeholders in various sectors of the economy to enlighten children to comply with Coronavirus measures to avoid being infected especially in learning environment.
The State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Chief Patrick Ukah, who stated this in Asaba, when members of the Delta State Civil Society Organisations, led by the Senior Special Assistant to the State Governor on Civic Engagement and Civil Society, Comrade Rex Anighoro, paid him a courtesy call, said that his ministry would always take the health care needs of school children in the state seriously particularly in post COVID-19 era.
Chief Ukah urged CSOs to defend the rights of children at all times, recalling that his ministry had reactivated and introduced some reforms in the education sector in the state such as effective functioning of the Parents Teachers Associations (PTAs), the school base management system, the introduction of an advocacy committee headed by the various traditional rulers and youth leaders in their areas.
He noted that the initiative for setting up the committee was for them to sensitise their people on the need to own and protect school facilities in their domains.
Earlier in his remarks, Comrade Anighoro commended Chief Ukah for impacting positively on the education sector.
Comrade Anighoro, who said that massive revolution was taking place in the education sector in a bid to ensuring that schools were conducive for learning, frowned at mischief makers whose stock in trade was to blackmail government and paint it in negative light just as he maintained that the idea behind the creation of the Delta State Civil Society Community was for various CSOs in different thematic areas to come and contribute their quota to the state government.
While soliciting the collaboration of the ministry to enable them advance civic education in the school system in order to curb social decadence among children, he pledged to partner with the ministry in monitoring activities.
On his part, the State Co-ordinator, Delta State Civil Society Community, Mr. Okezi Odugala, said that the group was on consultative visit to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), adding that CSOs would partner with government and private sector in providing solutions to issues of public concern.
Mr. Odugala, who stated that the group was interested in advocating and taking the programmes of the ministry to the rural communities, decried the unwholesome activities of some individuals who destroyed government facilities in their areas instead of protecting them for their own good.
