Ahead of Children’s Day celebration, Residents of Abakaliki, Ebonyi, have called for urgent intervention on the rising cases of social vices in schools.
A cross section of the residents made the call on Thursday, in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abakaliki.
They identified errant school children syndrome, cultism, gangsterism, and truancy, among others, as growing trends in both primary and secondary schools in the state.
Mr Ndubuisi Okereke, a resident, told NAN that untrained, unguided teachers, parents and authorities were behind the rising cases of social vices in schools in the state.
According to Okereke, the society was about to disappoint the young people for not giving attention to rising trends, their ideas and demands.
READ ALSO: Judge frees hungry man charged with stealing sweet potatoes
He blamed the society for not playing crucial roles on the children.
“Imagine where pupils and students of primary and secondary schools are involved in cultism and other dangerous crimes, without parents, teacher and school authorities knowing it. It’s scary,” Okereke said.
Mr Chidi Ebenyi said it was a clarion call for mothers, fathers, teachers, nurses, doctors, government, civil society activists, religious and community elders and the media to rise up to the challenge.
“Every parent must wake up to his/her responsibility of checking their wards’ moral, academic, emotional and physical being,” Ebenyi said.
Mrs Nkechi Livingstone, a parent and resident, cautioned people to listen to the ideas and demands from children.
Livingstone advised that their welfare should be embraced as powerful advocacy to make their lives and society better.
She advised that there should be improvements in children’s welfare, teachers, college and institutes and continuous training of teachers to correct the system, generally.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Children’s Day is celebrated every May 27, and this year’s theme is “Investing in our future means investing in our children.” (NAN)
Get Faster News Update On: WhatsApp and Telegram
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without written permission from CONVERSEER. Read our Terms Of Use.
