The effort of the present administration to sustain and maintain free and compulsory education in Akwa Ibom people seems to be just a scratch on the surface as people say government only focuses in the urban areas and cities of the state alone, while those at the rural areas have been neglected and left to suffer unduly following the lack of good educational facilities and equipments in some schools, reports Aniekan Sunday in Nsit Atai.
Recent findings revealed that a good number of pupils and students in public schools, especially those at the rural areas have for sometimes now been lagging behind as a result of not having a functional and conducive learning environments in-terms of classroom blocks, examination halls, functional laboratories among other educational facilities and equipments.
It has also been discovered that only few selected primary and secondary institutions at strategic locations and cities, such as International Airport road, Abak road, Aka-Nung Udoe Road and other regular visiting routes as well as some important cities and headquarters of LGAs like Uyo, Ikot Ekpene, Eket, Oron amongst others have only received a boost in upgrading of educational facilities and equipments from the state government, while some schools at the rural communities have been given deaf hear despite efforts made to attract governments attention.
However, when this Reporter visited one of the neglected schools 'the Community Secondary Commercial School, Ikot Akpanike' in Nsit Atai Local Government Area, the case was not different.
The Reporter who stormed the school premises at about 11:30 am on Thursday 13th April, 2017 observed the poor level of decayed infrastructure in the institution which according to investigations have produced eminent personalities, great scholars, and distinguished professionals in different field of endeavors including the likes of the current Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Linus Nkan; a senior Doctor with the Federal Medical Centre, Abuja, Dr. Uduak Samuel and a University Don, Prof Edem Udoekpo amongst others too numerous to mention.
On entering the school, right from the main entrance, fence, the security post, to the classroom blocks and examination hall as well as offices were completely dilapidated, thus rendering the students and teachers to helpless situations.
The Reporter equally observed that apart from the 2 blocks of 3 classrooms each reported to have constructed by SUBEB and PTF, and another block of 3 classrooms said to have constructed by the member representing Nsit Atai State Constituency in AKHA, Mark Esset, there was no government presence in the school as to offer a convenience and conducive learning environment to over 2000 students in the institution.
It was so pathetic that about 250 students were seen being squeezed into a dilapidated classroom block to write an examination in English Language instead of examination hall. It was a very sorry situation.
Effort to speak with the School Principal, teachers or any of the students proved abortive as no one was willing to talk to the reporter for fear of being mentioned in the report.
The village head of the host community of the school, Ikot Akpanike, was unable to be contacted as at the time of the visit.
However, a man who identified himself as Elder Effiong and claimed to hail from the community wondered why a school which was established in 1980 as a Secondary School and which has produced a lot of personalities and high-ranking professionals in the society is neglected and abandoned to decay, saying that 'a chick that laid golden eggs' has been left to die in hunger'.
When contacted on a telephone, the President of Ndisiak Unity Forum, a socio-cultural group in Nsit Atai, Mr. Daniel Ubaha, appreciated the present administration led by Deacon Udom Emmanuel for his effort in promoting and sustaining the free and compulsory education in the state.
He however appealed to present government to come to their aid, noting that the West African Examination (WAEC), had threatened to delist the school, if its infrastructure has not improved.
The reporter learnt that the structure which used to serve as an examination hall in the school, was an old structure constructed many years back when the school was a primary school before it metamorphosed into a secondary school.
The hall was completely collapsed. Where the final year students were writing their examination was an eyesore and terrible.
Meanwhile, the question that is yet to be answered is "When would Community Secondary School, Ikot Akpanike in Nsit Atai LGA wear a new look, or would it be allowed to remain in its permanent rotten condition forever"? Only time will tell.
Source..Aniekan Sunday/Ntakrok Akwa Ibom
No comments: