A group of youths in Osumenyi in Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra state have lamented alleged abandonment of the only two public secondary schools in the area.
The youths under the aegis of Osumenyi Youth Council said it was unfortunate that pupils offering science in the school had been studying without science laboratories over the decades.
President of the youths, Dr Charles Ebulue who spoke on behalf of the group during sensitization exercise against COVID-19 spread and distribution of thousands of facemasks to the locals, appealled for government intervention.
He regretted that most students have lost interest in science as a result.
He said, “Boys High School, Osumenyi and its Girls Secondary School counterpart have been running without science laboratories. This situation has continued to incapacitate science students and study of science in the two schools.
“We don’t have laboratories or science equipment in those two schools. No Physics, Chemistry or other sciences laboratories. There is no way in this 21st century you will talk about progress in the world without science.
“We implore Governor Obiano who is education friendly to come to our aid. These schools have been in existence since 1979 and the situation has been like that except some few years in the past when an attempt was made but they later returned to status quo.
“This does not in anyway encourage the study of science in Osumenyi community and many of the students have lost interest in science.”
On the COVID-19 preventive campaign, Ebulue said the exercise was targeted at checkmating community spread of the virus which he noted many of the rural dwellers never believed it was real.
“A lot of people have been misinformed that the pandemic was not real. But as a medical doctor I know it is real. That is why I have again as a youth leader initiated this sensitization programme for our people to stay safe.
“We educate them on the necessity to observe all the protocols which include regular hand washing, social distancing use of sanitizers and all of that.
“We use the opportunity to distribute over 15,000 special facemasks to our people as a preventative measure against the dreaded virus,” he added.
