Glory of public schools fading away, says Humphrey

An education advocate and philanthropist, Mr Onyekachi Christian Humphrey, has called on the federal government and state governments to take steps to revive what he called depleting the glory of public schools, insisting on the future of the Nigerian child is in jeopardy if this is not done.

Mr Humphrey, the founder of Onyekachi Great Vision (OGV) Foundation, a non-governmental organisation, noted that he had been inundated with calls from his Ideato North Local Government Area of Imo State that several teachers have retired from the public schools in the local government while no replacements are being sent to fill the vacuum caused by their retirement.

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In a release made available to our correspondent on Friday, Mr Humphrey said this has left the affected schools in limbo while parents and guardians keep withdrawing their children and wards to enrol them in private schools.

He insisted that this trend is not in the interest of the young people, calling on the federal government, state governments, individuals and non-governmental organisations to raise awareness for the replacement of retiring teachers.

While adding that the high cost of enrolling in private schools had frustrated parents and guardians who cannot afford it, Mr Humphrey called for immediate revival of all public schools across the country to save them from total collapse.

Mr Humphrey has, through his organisation, helped many to achieve their life dreams by offering them education scholarships.

This is predicated on the belief that children of nobody can become somebody in future if provided with the right empowerment and assistance to realise full potential.

Apart from education, OGV Foundation also leads in other welfarist projects such as youth empowerment, provision of emergency foods, water, assistance to widows, orphans and vulnerable children.