Nkechinyere Ewa
The Ebonyi State Ministry of Education (Primary and Secondary) has issued a stern crackdown on the Principal of Ebonyi State University Secondary School, Mr. Fidelis (Emmanuel) Ozibo, and members of the school’s management over alleged insubordination, mismanagement, and poor maintenance of school facilities.
This follows the disturbing incident in which a female student was raped last week by a suspected mentally-ill man after going to defecate in the bush due to the lack of functional toilets in the school.
The Ministry had invited the school principal to provide a full briefing on the circumstances surrounding the incident, but he and other management staff reportedly failed to honour the official invitation. Angered by the refusal, the Commissioner for Education, Dr. Donatus Ilang, ordered the police to arrest the principal and any staff who were part of the defiance.
Dr. Ilang, who visited the school, expressed shock over the poor condition of facilities despite the numerous levies allegedly collected from parents.
“The school structure lacks maintenance. Even ordinary soap cannot be found in the toilet. It was because the toilets were not functional that the girl went into the bush where she was raped,” he said.
The Commissioner also directed an immediate refund to parents for items and materials allegedly paid for but nowhere to be found in the school including convenience items and school uniforms. Many students were reportedly seen without uniforms they claimed to have paid for over a term ago.
While commending the school for the prompt medical attention given to the victim, Dr. Ilang condemned the level of filth within the compound, especially the waste disposal area, describing it as “nothing to write home about.”
He said the arrest order against the principal was necessary because: “I called for a meeting so he could brief the Ministry on the incident. He ignored the invitation despite it being official.”
American British Home Academy Closed Again
In a related development, the Ministry also shut down the American British Home Academy for reopening the school after it had earlier been officially sealed by the government. Dr. Ilang described the structures in the school as “shanties” unfit for learning and directed that those arrested in connection with the illegal reopening be charged to court.
Principal, VC React
Reacting, Principal Ozibo admitted he intentionally ignored the Commissioner’s invitation, claiming he was acting on the orders of the Vice Chancellor of Ebonyi State University, Professor Michael Awoke.
He insisted the Commissioner lacked the authority to summon him, even though the Ministry legally supervises all primary and secondary schools in the state.
Despite visibly dilapidated facilities, including classrooms, laboratories, and the computer lab, Mr. Ozibo continued to defend the school’s condition.
Speaking to journalists by phone, Vice Chancellor Awoke maintained that the Commissioner has no power over any school whether nursery, primary, or secondary within the university environment. However, he appealed for the release of the arrested principal and staff.
Parents Call for Government Rescue
Some parents, who spoke anonymously, urged the state government to intervene, alleging widespread corruption in the school administration, inability of the school to provide uniform for the students. They thanked Commissioner Ilang for his bold steps toward cleaning up the education sector in Ebonyi State.
Meanwhile, the suspected rapist was reportedly in police custody and to be charged to court.