Odahiekwu Ogunde, Yenagoa
Bayelsa State Commissioner for Education, Mr Gentle Emelah, has suspended the Principal and Vice Principal of the Epie National High School in Kpansia, Yenagoa metropolis, Mr Fabingha Simeon and Mr Morgans Agagaowei, respectively, for alleged absenteeism during school hours.
Emelah, who was among the 24 new newly-inaugurated commissioners, ordered their suspension when he paid an unscheduled visit to their school and that of the Bishop Dimieari Grammar School on Monday.
He said he discovered during the visit that the affected principal and vice principal were absent from work.
Emelah said it was not proper that the two officials would absent from work, especially when final year students of the ENHS were also taking the West African Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination.
He, therefore, directed the senior teacher of the school, Mrs Dakolo Timinipre, who was on duty, to run the affairs of the school until further notice.
The commissioner said, “I was there (at ENHS) and surprisingly the principal and vice principal were not on ground, apart from the fact that the WASSCE is ongoing in their school.
“I have directed the principal and the vice principal to be placed on suspension while we look into their case.”
He, however, expressed satisfaction with the level of COVID-19 compliance by staff and students of the BDGS.