ST.

FRANCIS’ COLLEGE, OTUKPO

SPEECH BY THE PRINCIPAL, FR AUGUSTINE OCHAI AT THE PTA GENERAL CONGRESS HELD
ON THE 8TH DECEMBER, 2023.
APPRECIATION
We thank God for seeing us through the first term of the 2023/2024 academic session. The term commenced
on Monday 11th sept, 2023 and closes on Friday 15th Dec. 2023.
The college appreciates the staff for the patience and endurance with the students, as it appears to be more
challenging in handling the children of this generation, and the demands of their job especially with the
present socio-economic challenges of our time.
We also appreciate our students for their endurance in keeping with the demands of their formation here in
the college, and in applying themselves notwithstanding the very many negative influences that abound in our
world today. May I specially recognize this present crop of JSS 1 for their strength as a very good number of
them have St Francis College as the second place they have slept, with the first being “mummy’s back”.
The support of the old boys is overwhelming as seen in the renovation of physical structures going on. We
cannot forget Barr Godwin Obla whose handwriting is so visible in the college. We appreciate also a group
of three old boys of the 1987 set the gave our students a special treat on Sunday, I doubt much if our dear
students will forget their lunch of Sunday 3/12/2023 in a hurry. We appreciate also those who have done a lot
of other things but in respect for their choice of anonymosity I will not mention their names.
RESUMPTION FOR 2ND TERM, 2023/2024 ACADEMIC SESSION
Based on the academic calendar released by the Benue State Ministry of Education, the resumption date for
the 2nd term is 8th January, 2024. Students will be received back to the school throughout the first week of
resumption after which it becomes weekend resumption strictly.
ACTIVITIES HELD OR ATTENDED
The College Feast Day celebration was held on the 3rd and 4th October, 2023 with a large turn of the old boys
of the college.
The college had her annual Orientation program for the new students on the 20th October, 2023, with all
students and members of staff in attendance.
The annual celebration of the inaugural Mass of the academic year was held on the 30 th October, 2023 and
the college participated.
The principal on behalf of the college honoured the invitation for the presentation of award to Barr. Godwin
Obla (SAN) by the Abuja branch of the old boys on the 5th of November, 2023.
Ejembi Princewill and Ejiga Joseph, both of SS 3 represented the college at the 2023 Idoma Nation
Educational Advocacy Foundation Competition organized for all Secondary Schools and Colleges in Zone C
of Benue State, and came 2nd with a monitory award of #200,000 for the college and participants’ award of
#25,000 for the two participants.
GATE CHECK
Parents should kindly provide all items listed on the “Gate Check List” before sending their children to school,
as this will help check issues of theft as well as help our students not to feel less of themselves before other
students or feel less privileged or fortunate.
No student shall be received into the school without tending evidence of payment of school fees, PTA, 2 nd
Teller, and basic items as itemized on the gate check list must be provided.
STUDENTS’ VISIT (every 2nd Saturday of the month, 12noon – 5pm)
We invite all parents to obtain the Parents’ Visit Permit Card from the School Finance office next term with
their passport photograph, and that of any other One (1) trusted family member that they would permit to visit
their child, without this card, no one will be allowed access to our students from next tem. The school frowns
at irresponsibility and indiscipline. We shall take more appropriate measures on parents and siblings that
exhibit this on visiting days. We appeal to parents to come visit their children on visiting days avoid them
looking and feeling like abandoned children.
We equally advise parents to confirm whatever they are told by their children before giving them money or
getting antagonistic with the school. To be more specific, the school does not ask the students for any payment
for “logistics” or whatever name the students give.
SCHOOL FEES FOR 2ND TERM, 2023/2024 ACADEMIC SESSION
Based on the current socio-economic situation of the country, it has become very pertinent that we make an
upward review of the students feeding fee as the #190 per meal has long become inadequate to feed our
students at the moment and as well as other running costs.
In consultation with a number of stakeholders including the education secretary of the catholic diocese of
Otukpo and the EXCO of the PTA of the college, in consideration of several other factors especially the
increasing biting economic situation on you dear parents of our students, and indeed on all of us, the school
fees for next term shall be N68,980.00. The Three Thousand Naira increment is to aid the utility bills of the
college and other possible areas it is able to cover.
The School Fees of SIXTY-EIGHT THOUSAND, NINE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY NAIRA (N68,980.00)
shall be paid only into: Account Name: ST. FRANCIS COLLEGE SCHOOL FEES, Account Number/Bank:
2005539730 - FIRST BANK PLC OR ST. FRANCIS COLLEGE SCHOOL FEES ACCOUNT 1015804483
– ZENITH BANK PLC.

PTA LEVY/FEE of N2,800.00 should be paid into: Account Name: ST. FRANCIS COLLEGE (PTA)
Account Number/Bank: 2005270516 - FIRST BANK PLC OR Account Name: ST. FRANCIS COLLEGE
OTUKPO-EXAMS ACCOUNT: 1015805796 - ZENITH BANK PLC.

2nd Teller payment of N3,000.00 (for JSS 1 - 3) and N4,000.00 (for SS 1 - 3) shall be paid into: Account
Name: ST. FRANCIS COLLEGE BLOCK INDUSTRY. Account Number/Bank: 2012801219. FIRST
BANK PLC, OR Account Name: ST. FRANCIS COLLEGE OTUKPO-EXAMS, Account Number/Bank:
1015805796 - Zenith Bank.

KINDLY NOTE THAT MOPPING UP OF PAYMENTS INTO A SINGLE ACCOUNT IS NOT

ALLOWED. EXAMPLE: PAYING OF PTA AND 2 ND TELLER ALONG WITH SCHOOL FEES ALL
INTO SCHOOL FEES ACCOUNT IS AS GOOD AS NOT PAYING FOR 2 ND TELLER AND PTA YET.
ALSO, THE SCHOOL DOES NOT HONOUR ANY PAYMENT MADE TO
INDIVIDUALS/GUARDIANS/TEACHERS NOT AUTHORIZED TO COLLECT PAYMENTS ON
BEHALF OF THE SCHOOL. ENSURE EVERY PAYMENT IS RECEIPTED.
REGISTRATION FOR THE 2024 EXTERNAL EXAMINATIONS
There is a significant upward review of payments and charges for examinations by the WASSCE and NECO
bodies this year. The payment for the two external examinations is SEVENTY-FOUR THOUSAND, EIGHT
HUNDRED NAIRA ONLY (N74,800.00) having deducted the installmental payments made. Note that the
rumor that the government will pay for students’ registration is not realistic yet. Parents are to kindly being
the payment as we have already started the registration process. Kindly pay into ST. FRANCIS COLLEGE
BLOCK INDUSTRY ACCOUNT, FIRST BANK – 2012801219 OR ST. FRANCIS COLLEGE
EXAMINATION ACCOUNT, ZENITH BANK – 1015805796. Kindly send evidence of payment to
07044298823 via SMS or WHATSAPP. We have up to the third week of January, 2024 to avoid late
registration and extra payment.
JAMB REGISTRATION
Here is some vital information concerning JAMB 2024/2025. JAMB 2024 Registration Date = 14th January,
2024. JAMB Registration Deadline = 14th February, 2024. JAMB 2024 Registration Fee = N4,700. JAMB
2024 Novel = The Life Changer. JAMB 2024 Reprinting Date = 29th April, 2024. JAMB 2024 Mock Exam
Date = 20th April, 2024. JAMB 2024 Examination Date = 29th April, 2024.
Note: There could be other handling charges by the computer centres. You may inquire with the master in
charge of matters pertaining to JAMB on {+234} 07030336842 - Mr Igoche Enokela.
COMPLAINTS/INCONVENIENCES/APOLOLIES
Our dear students have experienced a lot of inconveniences in the area of accommodation, bathroom and toilet
due to the ongoing renovation in the school. This they understand and wait in great joy and happiness to
occupy the hostels again with new and better comfort. The school regrets any inconvenience this has caused
our students,
The college continues to struggle with the students’ attitudes towards personal hygiene, evil conspiracy or
keeping quiet over evil (collabor in the language of the students), theft, jumping of bounds, bullying,
carelessness and wastages of water, books, uniforms, destructive habits of electricity and other utilities, etc.
sadly, some of these students do not tell you the truth even when you visit of they come home. However, we
are glad that greater number or percentage of our students are responding positively to formation.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM CATHOLIC PRINCIPALS’ AND CCPTA MEETINGS HELD ON THE 15 TH AND
29TH NOVEMBER, 2023 AT ST ANNE’S AND ST MONICA’S SEC. SCHOOLS RESPECTIVELY
i. Catholic education is concerned with the holistic formation of the entire human person.
ii. Discipline, hard work, dedication, commitment, respect for persons and constituted authorities and
other virtues are characteristics of catholic education, and so must always be upheld.
iii. Zero tolerance for examination malpractice.
iv. Bullying and other forms of behavours not in consonance with learning must be discouraged.
v. All local PTAs are to be alert again to the idea of PTA physical projects in schools.
vi. PTAs are to collaborate with the school management towards ensuring fair allowance
commensurate with the job of school paid staff.
vii. The Education Secretary appealed for continued collaboration between principals, PTA chairmen,
PTA EXCO and members for greater effectiveness.
viii. The proprietor, through the ES expressed appreciation to all school heads and staff for their
patience with the contemporary learners.
ix. Career talks should be organized to help enlighten learners on career choice.
x. Parents should watch their children carefully on the kind of company they keep during holidays.
xi. The use of cell phones and other gadgets not permitted for use by all education stakeholders
remains out of bound.
SOME OUTSTANDING STUDENTS IN PARTICULAR AREAS
The following students shall have TEN THOUSAND NAIRA (N10,000.00) paid off their school fees next
term; Louis Ujoh – Keyboardist, Ojeka Mathew, Tarkwa Nelson, Ochigbo Abraham and Shedrack Emmanuel
of labour department for their services and commitment to their work. Ejembi Princewill and Ejiga Joseph
(Academics). Thank you and do have a lovely and loving celebration of the Christmas season.