By Cajetan Mmuta
The Parents Teachers Association (PTA) of the Federal Government College (FGC), Nise in Anambra State has appealed to the Federal Ministry of Education to disregard a petition against the Principal of the school, Mrs Ijeoma Ekumankama.

The PTA stated this in reaction to a petition titled “Our Children Use Maggot Infested Toilets Like Prisoners” which was written by an unknown group under the aegis of Concerned Parents of FGC, Nise, and signed by one Dr. Kenenna Obiatuegwu.

The petition raised a number of allegations including fraud, poor infrastructure, unhealthy environment, malnutrition, and intimidation of parents by Ekumankama.

But Chairman of the PTA Dr (Mrs) Chinasa Iloabueke, Mr. Chris Obichukwu, Secretary, and five other members of the executive described the allegations as unfounded and distanced the association from it.

They pointed out that Obiatuegwu is not known in FGC Nise PTA, describing him as a meddlesome interloper as he had no child in the college.

The association said they were working assiduously within the limits of available resources towards improving the learning and living conditions of students and exonerated the principal of allegedly meddling with PTA funds.

“We hereby categorically disassociate the PTA from the publication which contained unfounded allegations.

“The present PTA executive has been working tirelessly in partnership with the college management and the government in upgrading the facilities in the College,” they said.

PTA condemns attacks on schools

The association explained that “PTA funds have been judiciously applied in complementing the efforts of both the Federal Government and College management to ensure improved quality of the learning environment for our children, the principal does not control the PTA funds,” it stated.

The association said unlike alleged in the publication, the PTA responded to areas of needs such as staff needs and infrastructure upgrade, pointing out that the principal’s staff quarter was not built with the funds of the PTA.”

It said PTA teaching and nonteaching staff numbering over one hundred were paid as and when due including salary arrears resulting from the Covid-19 lockdown of 2020 approval was made  for a pay increase in response to prevailing economic reality.”

“Since we came on board, the entire SS2 girl’s hostel and all the adjoining corridors connecting it with SS1 Girls Hostel has been tiled, the  students’ dining hall has also been tiled in partnerships with the college

“Renovation works at the SS3 boys’ hostel toilets are ongoing, ceilings in some classrooms were replaced also in partnership with the college and  PTA has never signed any cheque in favor of the Principal.”

“The government runs a Remitta account and no federal government ministry maintains a bank account and   The PTA is duly represented in the SBMC.”

“The continued and unwarranted attack on the Principal and by extension the PTA executive is misguided and vindictive.

The Principal of the College has been a lady of very strong character and a disciplinarian par excellence. The college under her leadership has witnessed a meaningful transformation in areas of infrastructure and discipline with visible transformations.”

“Consequent upon the above, we pray the Federal Ministry of Education to disregard the frivolous petition against the Principal. Indeed, some of the allegations are laughable,” the body stated.