Nelson Utip
The governor of Akwa Ibom State Pastor Umo Eno has been advised to disband the panel constituted by his administration to investigate the condition of 26 boarding schools in the state following the viral video of deplorable condition of students and substandard feeding at The Presbyterian Senior Science College, Ididep in Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area of the state, the video exposed the rot in the boarding school system in the state. In her defence, The State Commissioner for Education, Idongesit Etiebet said it was not the responsibility of the state government to feed students as the free education policy of The State Government guarantees free tuition not feeding. She said that not withstanding, the present administration will do it’s best to revamp the ailing system of education in the state.
The founder of Open Forum, a Civil Society Organization Mr Matthew Kofi Okono, is of the opinion that, for Akwa Ibom to succeed in revamping the ailing education system, it must go back to implement the strategic roadmap of 2020-2030 by Prof. Hillary Inyang-led technical team, under the last administration in the state:
“To ensure the success of the ARISE Agenda and effort of Gov Umo Eno in the education sector, the only solution and lowest hanging fruit to address the crisis in the education sector in the state is the diligent implementation of the Akwa Ibom Strategic Education Roadmap (AKSER) 2020 – 2030 which was produced during the Udom Emmanuel administration through the efforts of an 18-member Education Think-Tank headed by Distinguished Prof. Hilary Inyang.” Okono said doubting if anyone can interpret the seventeen (17) initiatives contained in the 436-page master plan apart from members of the team.
“The masterplan was received and adopted by the then Udom Emmanuel administration and a state of emergency was declared in the education sector, though with just the initial intervention in recruitment of teachers and fencing of some schools, majorly within the state capital.
“Its holistic implementation by the Umo Eno administration will address the decay in the education sector typified by the embarrassing food served boarding students of Presbyterian Senior Science School, Ididep and most likely in the 25 other boarding schools in the state.” Okono noted.
He posits that the currently constituted lack capacity to succeed after interaction with stakeholders in the education sector.
“We understand that it is the state government through the ministry of education and the state secondary education board that fixed the uniform boarding fee of N60,000.
“The commissioner for education, Mrs Idongesit Etiebet has in a press statement confirmed that the free education policy in Akwa Ibom State covers tuition fees ONLY and not boarding fees.” He continued.
He said that the principals of boarding school’s request for an upward review of the 60,000 naira boarding fees, necesiated by the high inflation rate in the country was turned down by the government.
According to Okono, the principals suggestion to buy directly from the state government Bulk Purchase Agency was also turned down.
To Okono, the suspension of the Principal of Presbyterian Senior Science School, Dr. Nse Sunday Umoh constituting a 15-member investigative panel is medicine after death.
“No one should be a judge in his own case. A better administered and supervised school system would not have brought the huge embarrassment to the people of Akwa Ibom State.
“Open Forum hereby appeals to His Excellency, Gov Umo Eno to disband the investigative panel.
“The crisis in the education sector is not an isolated case, but widespread.
“It is instructive to note that a permanent solution on how to transform the education sector in the state had been documented and handed over to the state government since 2020 under the administration of former Gov Udom Emmanuel.
“If at all a committee is needed to find out why such a heartbreaking meal, unfit for even dogs, was served to students of Presbyterian Senior Science School, (PSSSI), Ididep, it should be done by an independent body.
“The number of members may not exceed 5 or 7 persons and be appointed by His Excellency, the Governor.
“The panel should also be mandated to investigate the allegations of corruption involving principals and the state secondary education board to influence postings to choice schools in the state.
“Ignoring such weighty allegations will further create and or widen the trust deficit in the integrity of the government.” Okono concluded.
