SAIC not only employed additional four teachers to strengthen the teaching staff, the group also donated school essentials and stationeries.
By Emma Ogbuehi
For the over 200 pupils and teachers of Obohia Town School, a community primary school, founded in 1929 in the bucolic Obohia community in Ahiazu Local Government Area of Imo State, the month of May will ever remain memorable.
That was the month a non-governmental organization, the Social Aid International Centre (SAIC), founded in 2018, visited to lend a helping hand to both the teachers and pupils.
The visit was in line with the vision of SAIC as a non-governmental organisation to promote community development and alleviate poverty through capacity strengthening initiatives.
The Executive Director and founder of SAIC, Chief Iyke Ezeh, told TheNiche that the organization “focuses on youth empowerment programmes, maternal and child health, sexual and reproductive health rights, health research and education initiatives.”
Ezeh said SAIC’s outreach to Obohia Town School was in fulfilment of one of its core mandates: promotion of the rights and education of marginalised persons.
Founded 93 years ago, most of the elite in the local government had their primary education in the once iconic school. But like most other public primary schools in rural communities, which are today attended by mostly indigent pupils from poor homes, the school has since gone to seed.
But with the intervention of SAIC, the over 200 pupils, who had suffered all manner of deprivations, are now singing a new song.
SAIC not only employed additional four teachers to strengthen the teaching staff, the group also donated school essentials and stationeries ranging from school uniforms, bags, books, writing materials and school desks.
At the handover ceremony, the headmistress of Town School Obohia, Mrs. Maureen Ebiringa, Parents Teachers Association (PTA) chairman, Mr. Albert Unanka, and Town Union President, Chief Emma Nneji, were beside themselves with joy.
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Speaking at the event, a visibly elated Mrs. Ebiringa, while expressing her appreciation on behalf of the staff and pupils of the school thanked the organization for the very valuable gifts which she said will go a long way in easing the burden the school had carried for too long.
She said, “Teaching has been extremely challenging for the teachers. In the same vein, the lack of writing materials and even desks for the pupils to sit on has made learning tough for them. Many of the pupils are from relatively not so comfortable financial backgrounds and hence providing some of these essentials for their wards has not been easy.
“These issues have remained a constant source of headache because they hinder effective learning and development of the pupils. But SAIC has brought smiles to the faces of the teachers and their pupils. We are grateful. Four new teachers will go a long way in strengthening the staff numbers and pupils will no longer learn sitting on the floor.”
One of the pupils who got a school bag could not hide his excitement. “This is my first school bag, I have never had a school bag, and I normally hold my books in my hand or put them inside a nylon bag when it is raining. But today, I have a beautiful bag to put my books. I am so happy”.
Another pupil who got a new set of uniforms was equally overjoyed. “My parents do not have money, which is why I have been unable to change my uniform even though it is really old and torn. Today, I have been gifted a new pair of uniforms, books, school bag and a desk, I am so happy.”
Happy that his organisation has brought joy to the school community, Chief Ezeh, who thanked the headmistress, PTA chairman, staff and pupils of Obohia Town School for their warm reception, emphasized that education will always be the bedrock of any society that craves development.
He promised that the Social Aid International Centre (SAIC) will continue to do all within its power and available resources to support and uplift the school.