A secondary school
principal in Edo State has been suspended for allegedly hiring out some
of the school’s facilities for commercial purposes.
The Principal,
Patricia Boseh of Adesuwa Secondary School, Benin, was suspended
following an unscheduled visit to the school by the commissioner for
education in the state, Ngozi Osarenren and top officials of the
ministry.
Mrs Osarenren was
said to have gone to the school after getting a report that the school
hall has been hired out to a new generation church as worship centre,
and hostel accommodations were being rented by members of the public.
Angered by the fact
that the school hall was actually decorated as a church and the hostels
taken over by tenants, Mrs. Osarenren announced the immediate
suspension of the principal.
She said it was
worrisome that students were denied a conducive space for morning
assembly and external examinations while church members occupy
facilities provided by government with tax payers’ money.
In an interview,
the school principal said she took the action to discourage criminals
who frequently attack them in the school.
Mrs Boseh said the
police have not been able to stop the incidents partly because the
school is located in a rather unpopulated area. She said she felt that
having more people in the school premises would at least scare hoodlums
away.
“This place is too lonely and criminals are taking advantage of that
to attack us every time. And we also decided to do this to raise funds
in running the school,” she said. She appealed to the authorities to
reconsider the decision to suspend her.
