Delta State government returns mission schools to former owners

In its determination to improve the moral and intellectual standard of education in the state Delta State government has officially handed 40 schools to the mission and former owners

The state governor Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan who formally presented the handing-over letters to the missionaries assured teachers and non-teaching staff of the affected schools that their monthly salaries and pensions was guaranteed by the state government.

He said that his administration was determined to ensure that schools were returned to their original owners as it would help improve on the standard of education saying “This exercise is intended to improve on the standard of education. The mission has done this before and can still do it.

The governor noted that government schools would compete with mission schools in providing quality and standard education in the state. “I believe the mission will provide a standard for government schools. We shall strive to match this standard.

Governor Unduaghan lamented the moral decadence in the society stressing that education was gradually declining because teachers and students were no longer dedicated to their responsibilities.

Speaking further, he said the situation was different in mission schools “Society is gradually declining morally. Schools have lived up to expectation in this aspect because the students and teachers are dedicated”.

He commended the mission for their patience with government over the handing-over process adding that the process took over 10 years and promised that all issues arising from the handing over would be amicably resolved.

In a brief response, the Bishop of  Anglican Dioceses of Oleh who spoke on behalf of the mission expressed appreciation to the state government for formally handing over schools to the mission.

He promised that the mission would do its best to build a high educational standard in the state and called on the co-operation of all Deltans in achieving this goal.

“We will not disappoint you as long as you co-operate with the mission. The mission will co-operate with the government in achieving this goal”.

Bishop Edewor commended the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Prof. Patrick Muoboghare for accelerating the handing over process and appealed to government to give the mission the free hand to run the schools.

Highpoint of the ceremony was the presentation of handing-over letters to representatives of the mission which comprised of the Anglican, Catholic, Africa and Baptist Churches.