By FESTUS AHON
UGHELLI—Bishop of the Ughelli Diocese, Anglican Communion, Delta State, Rt. Rev. Cyril Odutemu, weekend, said churches were adequately equipped to manage schools in the country.

Odutemu, who spoke during the Diocesan Fathers’ Union General Conference, hailed the Delta State Government’s decision to hand over schools  to the missions.

He said the decision was a positive step towards the attainment of qualitative education in the state, adding that the move would create healthy competition.

The move, he noted would allow government agencies in charge of education to learn the way the missionaries ran their schools, adding that the schools were booming before the government took them over.

He said, “we are not unaware that the government is going to meet with resistance. For instance, the teachers will like to know the package the state government has in place for them but I am sure Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan will ensure that there is no rancor because schools are released to the missions.”

Lamenting infrastructural decay in some of the schools, Odutemu said the missions would not condone acts of examination malpractice, cultism and other vices.

He insisted that, “the church will not fail in the management of the schools, because it is part of our ministry. We train children in the way they should go, so that when they grow, they do not depart from it. The techniques are still there and we have the human resources to administer the schools.

“There will be no room for gatherings to discuss evil. Students will be imparted with knowledge and sound morals.  People will be trained both in knowledge and character. The church is up to it and the children should wake up to this understanding and they will be glad they went through the training of the missions because they will be made better and responsible citizens for tomorrow,” he added.