FCT minister orders school heads to improve sanitation

By Daniel Tyokua

The Minister of FCT, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has charged principals and head teachers in the territory to maintain clean school environ­ment at all ti mes.

He gave the charge over the weekend during an unscheduled visit to some schools in the FCT.

The Minister, in company of the Chairmen of the FCT Sec­ondary Education Board, Alhaji Musa Yahaya and other officials of the Board expressed dissat­isfaction on the sanitary condi­tions of one of the schools vis­ited.

Bello who expressed his dis­satisfaction at the state of affairs in the schools wondered why the school environment was not kept clean and said that envi­ronmental sanitation in a school premises should be a daily affair.

He also charged the school heads to be proactive in the management of their schools saying that minor repairs within the schools could be carried out by the school heads without nec­essarily resorting to the Boards for approvals.

He also directed that proper toilet hygiene should be main­tained saying that open defection will not be tolerated anywhere in the FCT.

The Minister also advised school heads in the FCT to take advantage of the seasons when teaching subjects like agricul­ture. He said that teachers can use the season to teach dry sea­son farming instead of allowing school farms to be overtaken by weed with the excuse that there are no rains.

He also directed that open spaces immediately border­ing the perimeter fences of all schools in the FCT should be devoid of any kind of trading or business activity for the safety of the pupils and students, adding that school heads should ensure the removal of illegal structures and sanitation of such areas.

While commending the prin­cipal of junior Secondary School Dutse Sagbayi, Dr Funsho Oba for maintaining the cleanliness of the land bordering his school, Malam Bello advised that school heads should be innovative and creative in ensuring that students participate actively in keeping their schools clean.

“ For instance, you can or­ganize a competition amongst them and say the Minister will come at the end of the term and give a prize. That way, they will be motivated” the Minister said.