By TALLA AGHAA CHRISTOPHER
It was an unprecedented turnout of Tombel School-going children currently internally displaced at the Government Bilingual Primary School, GBPS Buba school campus, in Buba IV, a neighbouring village in Tombel Sub Division, South West Region in Penja Sub Division, Littoral Region.
The school children from Tombel, were happy recipients of didactic materials recently, from the 21st motorised infantry battalion headed by Colonel Eyenga Severin. According to the Colonel, their choice of Tombel school-going children currently in Buba IV as IDP’s wasn’t an error. He hinted that he received information that many of the children were very eager to go school and didn’t have the means, reasons why he embarked to the area to rescue them and encourage them with didactic materials like books, school bags, cash and some food items to aid them. Education, the Colonel disclosed is the key to success and the current crisis shouldn’t jeopardise the future of the children who have been out of school since 2017. The Colonel opined that parents should take it as a duty to shun fear and send their children to school for their security is very much guaranteed.
On his part, the Divisional Officer DO for Tombel, Nyam Leonard who accompanied the elements of the 21st Motorised Infantry Battalion, in his words of encouragement expressed satisfaction to the Colonel for coming to the rescue of the children. He added that with the National Dialogue announced by the Head of State, parents should take advantage and send their children to school. He said it’s only through education that the future of their children can be guaranteed, adding that one can’t be a DO, Lawyer, Colonel, Doctor, Journalist and Teacher without going to school.
The Head Teacher of the School, Robert Seuho while thanking the Colonel for his kind gesture which he described as timely, hinted that the school lacks infrastructure, since the number of enrollment has increased geometrically due to the influx of the IDP’s. He, like Oliver Twist, urged the government to bring more assistance to the school.
A class five pupil who spoke to the press, expressed gratitude to the Colonel and disclosed that he will be able to concentrate in his studies in order to achieve his dream. However, he called on the powers that be to solve the crisis that has brought them untold suffering, so that they can go back to their respective villages in Tombel and continue their normal lives. The event was graced by cultural and traditional dances.