The Abia state government has frowned at the Infiltration of cultism into Primary and Secondary Schools in the state, with a call for all hands to be on deck to checkmate the ugly trend.
Speaking during a
one day education stakeholders summit organized by the ministry of education in Umuahia the state capital Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, represented by his Deputy, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu, warned any person or groups encouraging such unwholesome behaviour to desist from it.
He described the summit as apt and timely, adding that Nigeria was becoming violent with killings, armed robbery, kidnapping, herdsmen/ farmers clashes, Boko Haram insurgency, banditry and rape on the increase.
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 hard drugs.
He expressed confidence that the Summit will come out with meaningful and applicable resolution that would bring to an end or reduce cultism in schools and society.
Ikpeazu, reaffirmed his administration's resolve to ensure that the state maintains its 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 and moral upbringing of the students.
The Governor who noted that quality education play 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 our primary and secondary schools.
He stressed the need for a close watch into the moral upbringing of children at home and in the school 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, acknowledged the role of the present administration in giving education a pride of place through value oriented policies.
He revealed that the neglect of the National Policy on Education by parents who
put too much pressure on their children by forcing them to skip classes beyond their age and reasoning capacity, was one of the reasons for cultism in the our primary and secondary school.
He pointed out that when parents give their children
the impression that the end justifies the means, the children will form attitudes that does not augur well for their growth and development.
Also speaking the Chairman of the occasion Dr. (Mrs) Kate Ndubuka, pointed out that cultism in the primary and secondary school levels should be something of concern to every right thinking person as it potens great danger to the present and future generations.
She called on parents to be alive to the duty of bringing up their children to be morally upright and urged participants to be serious with the summit in order to give back to strengthen the children and society.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in education have expressed disaffection over the infiltration of cultism in the primary and secondary schools.
The stakeholders who spoke during the summit including those from the religious, traditional institution, academia, Parents Teachers Association, security agencies suggested maximum number of time for parents-children relationship, stiffer punishment and discipline as a way out of the ugly vice.
The third deputy chairman, Abia State traditional rulers council, HRM Eze Godfrey Onwuka drew the attention of the stakeholders to the increase rate of hard drugs ingestion/consumption, which according to him metamorphosis to cultism and opined that a law be put in place, which will define stiffer penalty to the deviants, to serve as a deterrence to others.
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