The Rivers State Senior Secondary Schools Board has expressed its readiness to give its best in ensuring that the public schools in Rivers State compete favourably with any private school in the State and the country at large in the area of intellectual and moral values.
Chief David Briggs, the Chairman of the board made this known on Monday, September 17, 2018, at the Government Girls Secondary School, Rumuokwuta, Port Harcourt, during a meeting with all principals of government owned schools in the State.
According to him, the meeting was a serious innovation where security tips was given by the commander of Anti-cultism, unit on how to curb cultism and ways of identifying students into cultism which he described as a stepping stone in solving the problems of fighting against the issue of cultism in schools.
Similarly health tips of very relevant area of their lives were also given by health experts for them to stay healthy while in service.
Chief Briggs further reminded the principals of upgrading their profiles and that of their teachers so as to enable the board do the needful at the appropriate time.
He also frowned at those who are pathological in act of extorting money from students in the name of returning fees, while emphasizing that those involved in the act of illegal act of extortion either stop or be ready to face the wrath of the law.
The Chairman of the board also promised to provide centralized identity cards for all students in government owned schools in the State, saying the society is complex, so there is the need for proper identification of students.
He also disclosed that there would no more automatic promotion, which he said has affected academic excellent in the state while pleaded with the principals and the teachers to exercise discipline in achieving the goal.
Recalling how they meet the SSS board, he said that the board will do all they could to ensure that they handover a system that is more articulate.
However, the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, CP Zaki M. Ahmad who was represented by the Commander, Anti-cultism Unit, Rivers State Command, CSP Ahijo D. Lawson in the meeting expressed his displeasure over the involvement of school children in cultism.
CSP Lawson gave reasons of cultism, the consequences and how it has affected performance of students in schools, but accused highly placed persons in society of patronizing various cult group, noting that, until they disabused their patronage, there would be no peace and development in the society.
He therefore, urged the principals and parents to always observe their children pattern of dressing, mode of greeting, marks on their body and the use of strange language by the children, saying cultism is an enemy to security in the society.
