DELSU VC Underscores Role Of PTA In School Development

By Ben Nwanne

The Vice-Chancellor of Delta State University, Abraka (DELSU), Professor Andy Egwunyenga has called on the Parents’ Teachers’ Association (PTA) to assist school authorities in providing facilities to enhance the overall quality of students being produced in the country.

Professor Egwunyenga was speaking on Tuesday, at the commissioning of a two-floor, eight – classroom building estimated at over #30million at the Delta State University Secondary School, Abraka.

He commended parents for their dedication, sacrifice and their complementary role in running the school.

He also inspected the School Laboratory and declared the facility inadequate, but promised to do something about it.

The VC also promised to commence the construction of the second arm of the building which could not be accomplished as a result of constraints of funds.

Speaking at the occasion, the immediate past chairman of the PTA, Professor E.C. Okolie under whose tenure the project commenced in 2008, during the tenure of former Principal, Dr. (Mrs.) Felicia Igborgbor, explained that the PTA mobilized funds for the project largely from the annual PTA levies and had done over 90% of the job by the time they left office in 2019.

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He expressed gratitude to God for enabling his EXCO to be able to pursue the project to almost completion stage and commended the current EXCO for completing the building which would bring some relief to the staff and students.

He was full of praises for all those who made contributions in different ways towards the success of the project, including former Vice-Chancellors, Professor Emeritus Eric Adrubayi and Professor Victor Peretomode.

In an interview with the Principal of the School, Dame Helen Kori-Siakpere expressed gratitude to the PTA for its commitment to the project which took over 10 years and also expressed appreciation to the Vice-Chancellor and his Management team for their unflinching support, particularly for employing new teachers, enhancing their conditions of service, providing six classroom block in May 2023 and the recent provision of 300 seats for the school.

Like Oliver Twist, who is always asking for more, the very experienced Principal requested the Management to consider helping the school to complete the Laboratory block to house Physics, Chemistry and Biology Laboratories and to expand the Assembly Hall to accommodate more students as the student population has grown significantly in the past few years from just 350 to over 1000 students, a situation she attributed to “good management, good teaching, the Vice-Chancellor’s support and the grace of God.”

In projecting for the future of the school, the Principal is optimistic of better days to come expressing satisfaction with the activities of the Old Boys and Girls Association which has shown more than a casual interest in the conditions of the school.

According to the calm and organized school administrator, the old boys and girls had made her proud with their intervention in some critical areas of the school. For instance, the association has completed several projects such as the renovation of the male and female toilets, built a school canteen and offered scholarships for outstanding students and enrolled three candidates for the West African Examination Council (WAEC) and other critical interventions in the affairs of the school.

The Association at the moment has as its President, Engineer Misan Ikomi who is providing leadership for the association. At the moment, the Delta State Chapter of the Association is organizing an essay and speech competition. Dame Kori-Siakpere is also very impressed with the performance of the students who gained admission into the DELSU and other recognized Universities. Her happiness derives from the positive comments about the good quality of their products.

The brief ceremony was made colourful and enjoyable by the school’s cultural troupe with various songs and dances which kept the Vice-Chancellor and his management team and other visitors thoroughly entertained as the chief executive announced a generous gift for the young dancers.