A’Ibom Gov Declares State of Emergence on Primary Education 

Okon Bassey in Uyo 

The Akwa Ibom State Government at the weekend lamented grievous state of its public schools, thus declaring a state of emergency on primary education in the state.

Consequently, the state government directed the immediate facelift, renovation and upgrade of facilities in public primary schools across the state.

The state governor, Mr Umo Eno gave the directives on Friday during an unscheduled inspection of Christ the King Primary School, Wellington Bassey Way, Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.

During the inspection, he directed that renovation of the state’s public primary schools should start from Christ The King Primary School.

Christ the King Primary School, designed to the state’s model for primary education, would be upgraded with the renovation of structures, provision of educational materials, solar lights, pipe borne water and staff quarters. 

In line with his development agenda, the governor said besides replicating the model in schools in the rural areas, the state government would provide special incentives for teachers in rural and riverine areas to encourage teachers perform maximally in those communities. 

During the inspection, Eno interacted with staff and pupils of the school to gather firsthand information on their welfare, saying it’s better to catch the school children young.

“Akwa Ibom elected me to serve the people and work for them. We are delivering on the campaign promises we made to Akwa Ibom people. Education is a key thing in our development agenda.

“We are determined, especially at the grassroots level. The grassroots level in Education begins with the primary school. This school is next to the Government house. So it should be a model of what public schools should be.

“We want to start here to create that model primary school we are talking about. I have just interacted with the pupils. They are vacating on July 28. We will use the long holiday to remodel this school, working very hard with the Ministry of Housing, the architects and the rest.

“I believe we should invest in these children. This is when to catch them young. School renovated will have teachers resident there. I will give them a little allowance to encourage them, particularly in the rural communities.

“I want to go to those riverine communities and see the conditions of our public schools. For teachers that are posted there, we will encourage them in order to get results.” 

He recalled the good old days when accommodation was provided for teachers within school vicinity, maintaining that the arrangement was a morale booster to enhance efficiency as teachers had a strong grasp of the children in character and learning.

The governor restated his commitment “to bringing back the glory days of basic education by providing the necessary facilities and enhanced security. This will be the first for the primary schools on what I think a model primary school should look like.

“I want to get teachers back to school and to live in the school. It will help maintain discipline. I have even started a commitment with the Head Mistress and she has promised that if provided with necessary facilities, they will live here.

“I remember the compound master of those days and other key position holders in the schools used to live within the school premises. We will provide security for them. I have asked the secretary to the state government to ensure that they employ people from this community immediately.

“If they have four, two in the day and two at night that will ensure adequate security, and that’s what we intend to do across the state. I believe we should invest in these children, and this is when to catch them young.”