Parents, Teachers accuse Provost of COEWA of insensitive over increase of fees, ban of PTA

Parents and Teachers Association, PTA of the primary school owned by the College of Education Warri, Delta have accused the provost of the College of Education, of alleged ban of the Association following a protest against the outrageous increase of fees and books in the school.

It was alleged that the provost’s thugs assaulted the PTA PRO, Barr. Emmanuel Degema Ophiemu, adding that it took the intervention of other Exco members to rescue him from the clutches of the Provost’s thugs.

Congress learnt that the Provost announced the decision of the school management on the amount of the books as stated below:
(1)Pre-nursary. #20,000.
(2)Nurs One -#35,000
(3)Nurs Two – #40,000.
(4)Nurs Three -#50,000.
(5)Pry One #50,000
(6)Pry Two #50,000
(7)Pry Three #50,000.
(8)Pry Four #50,000.
(9)Pry Five #52,000.

The statement reads, “recall that in our last meeting with the Provost of College of Education, Warri, on Monday, we, the Exco briefed you on the outcome of that meeting, which basically was centred on their resolve to publish the generally agreed prices of the books that will be a win- win situation for both parties.

“We reported also to the house that by Tuesday before the close of the day, parents should watch out for the school’s post on this matter.

“Surprisingly, this morning, we saw a message from our PTA chairman, Madam Mene Toritseju, informing us that the exco has been invited for a meeting with the Provost of the College of 5education, today, Tuesday, 19th September, 2023 by 2:00pm.

“Some us initially questioned the rational behind this, We asked for an explanation over their sudden resolve to meet with us with the view to finding out what the meeting is all about from our PTA chairman.
Unfortunately, no explanation was given.

“After much deliberation on this by the exco, we resolved to attend and know what must have prompted the meeting. On getting there, it was discovered that it wasn’t a meeting after all.

“The Provost in his autocratic leadership style, started by accusing the Exco of sponsoring a newspaper publication on Daily Post, wherein the school was alleged to have increased the school fees and all that.

“Without recourse to proper investigation as to the source of the publication, resorted to raining abusive words on the Excos and parents, and summarily said he has disbanded the Parents Teachers Association of the College of Education Nur &Pry school with immediate effect.

“While in his office, his thugs assaulted the PTA PRO Barr. Emmanuel Degema Ophiemu, it took the intervention of other exco members to rescue him from the clutches of the Provost’s thugs.

“This is very regrettable, especially when this is coming from a supposedly, the head of a citadel of learning, who should be seen to be law abiding, and have a human face, especially in the face of the prevailing economic situation in the the country.

“The PROVOST Chief Dickson Oyovwi also said, that parents who not okay with the prices of books should remove their children from the school that refund of school fees will be made to them and also refund on books bought if Name is not written on them.

“He has dissolved the PTA of the school and asked all the teachers to exit the group. Then, threatened to expel any child whose parents still complain about the prices of the books”, the statement reads.