Monarch Backs LGEA’s Drive to Establish SBMC for Mission Hill Primary School

The Traditional Ruler of Eziama/Mgbaja Autonomous Community, Ossah Ibeku Ancient Kingdom, Eze Chiabuotu Emelike, has thrown his weight behind efforts by the Umuahia North Local Government Education Authority (LGEA) to establish a School-Based Management Committee (SBMC) for Urban Mission Hill Primary School, describing the initiative as a major step towards repositioning the school for sustainable growth and development.

The endorsement came when a delegation from the Umuahia North LGEA, led by the Head of Department, Social Mobilisation and SBMC Desk Officer, Deacon Isaiah Ise, paid a courtesy visit to the monarch’s palace at Eziama Ossah Ibeku to solicit the support of the host community for the initiative.

Speaking during the visit, Deacon Ise disclosed that an assessment conducted by the education authority revealed that Urban Mission Hill Primary School one of the oldest public primary schools in the Umuahia North founded in 1932 currently operates without an SBMC, a statutory body established to strengthen collaboration among schools, communities, government agencies and development partners.

He explained that the authority is committed to ensuring that every primary and junior secondary school has a functional SBMC, noting that the committees serve as critical platforms for accessing intervention funds and educational support from the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), UNICEF, World Bank-assisted programmes, government agencies and other development partners.

According to him, the absence of the committee may deny the school several opportunities to attract development projects, counterpart funding and community-driven initiatives capable of improving teaching and learning.

He added that establishing the committee would also facilitate the revival of a vibrant old students’ association that could mobilise financial and material support for the institution.

“The establishment of an SBMC will create greater community stake in schools and position it to benefit from numerous educational intervention programmes,” Deacon Ise stated.

Responding, Eze Emelike commended the education authority for the initiative and described the visit as timely and commendable. He noted that Urban Mission Hill Primary School has produced many distinguished sons and daughters of the community, making its continued development a collective responsibility.

The royal father, however, stressed that addressing insecurity within the school premises should be accorded priority, lamenting that repeated acts of vandalism by hoodlums had destroyed several facilities and undermined previous development efforts.

Eze Emelike noted that if not for his community’s continuous efforts in combating crime through the local vigilante group, that hoodlums have vandalized the school properties.

He assured the delegation that the traditional institution and the host community would work with relevant stakeholders to facilitate the establishment of the SBMC and support programmes that would improve the school’s fortunes.

Also speaking, the President-General of Eziama/Mgbaja Autonomous Community, Chief Dandy Obiakalije, a retired official of the Abia State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB), recalled that he was among the advocates of the SBMC policy during his years in public service.

He praised the LGEA team for sustaining the initiative, noting that it had previously delivered measurable improvements in community participation, school management and educational development.

In a vote of thanks, the Palace Secretary and Secretary-General of the Eziama/Mgbaja Autonomous Community Ossah Ibeku, reaffirmed the palace’s commitment to supporting educational policies and programmes that would enhance learning and infrastructure development in the community.

The visit was attended by community leaders, including the President-General, the Palace Secretary, the Headmistress of Eziama/Mgbaja Community Primary School, Mrs. Patience Isikaku, among other stakeholders.