Revisiting State of Public Education in Akwa Ibom

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Revisiting State of Public Education in Akwa Ibom:

I am passionate about public education partly because I am a product of public education. I attended the following institutions of learning:

1. St. Joseph Primary School, Afaha Oku, Uyo.

2. Itam Secondary School, Itam, Itu LGA.

3. Presbyterian Senior Science School, Ididep, Ibiono Ibom LGA.

4. University of Uyo.

Above are public schools. Public education in Akwa Ibom State has collapsed. It is a shame given the vast resources that has accrued to the State. When Mr. Cletus Ukpong of Premium Times toured the state and came out with award winning investigative reports on the collapse of public education in Akwa Ibom State, he was maligned and attacked by the government. The situation is so bad that even artisans aspire to send their kids to private schools.

Once again, I’m renewing my public challenge for anyone to present evidence of one standard and well-equipped public primary or secondary school in Akwa Ibom State. Post the photos and prove me wrong.

Community Secondary Grammar School, Ikot Essien Ibesikpo:

Welcome to Community Secondary Grammar School, Ikot Essien Ibesikpo, located in the oil-rich Akwa Ibom State.

The topic of today’s Government class is “How corrupt politicians in Akwa Ibom State underdeveloped one of the richest States in Africa’s most populous nation”.

I hope you have your pen and note book with you? It is my pleasure to be your Government teacher.

Government Primary School, Afaha Offot, Uyo:

Fellow Nigerians, welcome to the prestigious Government Primary School, Afaha Offot, a world class citadel of learning located in Uyo, the Capital of the oil-rich Akwa Ibom; a State that has received over 4 trillion Naira in the last 13 years from the Federation Account alone.

Akwa Ibom State Government shows the world how to prepare leaders, scientists, writers and other intellectuals of the future for the task ahead of them. As schools resume across Nigeria, students of this great institution of learning are blessed to have a government that cares about them; the government has provided them with a condusive learning environment.

Other governors in the country should learn from Governor Udom Emmanuel and his predecessors on how to invest in education.

Akwa Ibom people, rise to the faith of greatness.

Holy Family College:

Holy Family College (HOFACO) was one of the best model schools in Akwa Ibom State that parents prayed, fasted and prepared their kids academically in their efforts to secure admission for their children.

HOFACO was once a model public secondary school in Akwa Ibom State that stood tall above most private schools.

Science Colleges in Edien Abak and Ididep:

How about the Science Colleges in Edien Abak and Ididep? As at when I attended Ididep Science School, the standard and quality of education was still very high. You can add yours.

In those years, most parents did not think about private schools because the best schools were public schools with competitive admission criteria. Today, these schools are nothing to write home about. These corrupt politicians destroyed public schools in Akwa Ibom and build their private schools.

Community Secondary School, Ikot Ubok Udom:

This was how SS 1 students of Community Secondary School, Ikot Ubok Udom, Nsit Atai LGA in the oil-rich Akwa Ibom State wrote their promotional examinations last year.

A State that has received about 4 trillion Naira between 2007 to 2020 cannot provide desks in public schools for her students.

As at today, there is no single model public primary or secondary school anywhere in Akwa Ibom State. I once again challenge anyone to prove me wrong.

Most of the public schools in Akwa Ibom State have dilapidated with no functional libraries, laboratories and other teaching aids. Teachers are in short supply.

Retired primary school teachers and the next-of-kin of late primary school teachers in Akwa Ibom State have not been paid pension and gratuity for many years.

Yet, billions of Dollars have been wasted on ill-conceived and ostentatious projects like the acquisition and maintenance of a private jet for the governor, a new governor’s lodge in Lagos, ecumenical centre, the abandoned stadium, 21 story building, abandoned Tropicana Entertainment centre (this alone cost about N120b), abandoned Four Point by Sheraton hotel, a new PDP Secretariat and other useless monuments and white elephant projects, most of which remain uncompleted and abandoned.

Public education has collapsed in Akwa Ibom State.

Fellow Nigerians, this is dividends of democracy – Akwa Ibom style.