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 in the state primary and secondary schools.
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.
He said this was bearing in mind that “our society is becoming a violent one with killings, armed robbery, kidnapping, herdsmen, Boko Haram, banditry and rape.”
He warned any person or groups encouraging such unwholesome behaviour to desist.
The State Chief Executive 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 were committed under the influence of drugs.
He expressed confidence that the Summit will come out with a meaningful and applicable resolution that will bring to an end or reduce cultism in schools and society.
Gov. Ikpeazu reaffirmed his administration’s resolve to maintain the State’s leading position in WAEC and other external examinations conducted in the country and beyond through the formation and implementation of robust policies that encourage and uplift the standard of education and moral upbringing of the children.
The Governor, who noted that quality education plays a very important role in the development of any State or nation, decried the infiltration of cultism which he described as a hydra headed monster into the primary and secondary schools.
He stressed the need for a close watch into the moral upbringing of 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 C.K Nwangwa who acknowledged the role of the present administration in giving education a pride of place through value oriented policies, however, blamed cultism in the primary and secondary schools to parents and society who have consistently neglected the National Policy On Education.
He said parents and caregivers were putting too much pressure on the children and making them go to classes beyond their age and reasoning capacity, giving them the impression that the end justifies the means.
Similarly, the Chairman of the occasion Dr. (Mrs) Kate Ndubuka pointed out that the issue of cultism in primary and secondary schools should be something of concern to every right thinking person.
