Abia Stakeholders Lament Vandalism of Public Schools, Call for Urgent Action

Education stakeholders in Abia State, including teachers and school administrators, have raised alarm over the rising cases of vandalism targeting public school facilities across the state.

The concern came to the fore when the Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC), led by its President, Eugene Okonta, visited World Bank Model Primary School and Isieke Central School in Umuahia North Local Government Area to distribute educational materials to pupils.

Teachers at the schools decried the destruction of critical infrastructure, including the theft of steel windows, roofing sheets, and office equipment. Headmistress of World Bank Model Primary School, Queen Okoroafor, lamented that the acts of vandalism were undermining teaching and learning while creating unsafe learning environments.

“This act of vandalism is seriously undermining teaching and learning and rendering the environment unsafe,” she said.

Supporting her remarks, the Education Secretary of Umuahia North Local Government Education Authority, Mrs. Florence Umezuruike, confirmed that a list of dilapidated schools had already been submitted to the state government for urgent intervention. She assured that renovation works were ongoing and promised that other affected schools would soon benefit from government attention.

Responding during the visit, OYC President Eugene Okonta encouraged the pupils to embrace discipline and uphold values that would make them responsible citizens. He advised them to avoid cultism, drugs, fighting, and examination malpractice, while showing respect to parents, teachers, and constituted authorities. He also described teachers as “moulders of society” deserving of honor and support.

Okonta noted that the sensitization visits were designed to both motivate pupils and draw government attention to pressing infrastructural challenges.

The school representatives expressed gratitude to OYC, stressing that the provision of learning materials would boost morale and complement the ongoing educational initiatives of Governor Alex Otti and the efforts of the governor’s wife, who recently supported pupils with study materials.

The event highlighted how vandalism continues to erode the quality of public education in Abia State, while also showing the critical role of civil society groups in supporting government efforts through advocacy, sensitization, and grassroots interventions.

Speaking on behalf of the pupils, Emmanuela Obike thanked OYC for the gesture and pledged that the items received would be put to good use.