Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has commissioned Christ the King Model Primary School and Government School Ewet Offot, with a promise to build model schools in every local government area of the state.
Speaking during the inauguration ceremony held at CKS Model Primary School Grounds, Wellington Bassey Way, Uyo, Governor Eno explained that the project comes with tremendous benefits aside from the modernised standard of education, including the provision of employment opportunities to state citizens.
He stated that Akwa Ibom artisans handled everything from the tailoring of uniforms to the making of shoes and school bags, amongst others, for the students to enable them to learn comfortably. He congratulated the pupils for being the first to experience the educational advancement drive of his ARISE Agenda.
The Governor assured that the ARISE Model School will be replicated across all the local government areas and called on corporate entities and individuals operating in the state to partner with the government to see that the vision becomes a reality.
“It was nine months ago that I paid an unscheduled visit to this school, and I was shocked by the dilapidated state of the school, which had existed for years. Right there and then, I directed that the entire school be pulled down to be replaced by a brand new model primary school in line with our policy to improve our educational standard at the primary school level.
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“We are replicating this model in this state’s local government areas. This is a bold initiative, and at this point, the government cannot do it alone. I hereby call on organisations and corporate entities to immortalise their names by adopting a school and building to our specifications or even exceeding this specification in our rural communities as part of their CSR.
“We have provided one million exercise books and would print more for all our pupils in primary schools. We are providing them with free school bags, uniforms and shoes. Let me tell you, these uniforms are made here in Akwa Ibom by tailors. The shoes too are made here, and as such, we are providing jobs for our artisans—tens of thousands of them,” he stated.
He warned head teachers against subletting the school facilities for social or religious activities, pointing out that the school is meant to provide an atmosphere of convenience, comfort and inspiration to the pupils to enable them to engage in their school activities without distractions.
“We appeal to the community to allow this to remain a school. We don’t want the community to turn this into a community football field. We don’t want the community to come here and ask for any room to hold church programmes. The heads of the two schools and other schools we are building must understand that. Don’t rent it for anything; if you do that, we will dismiss you.
“We want this school to remain in excellent condition for our children. We are providing security, and we are making sure that the asset management and maintenance agency will take charge of this school and all our facilities. We must ensure that they are very well maintained.
The governor expressed optimism that the model schools would reduce the rate of out-of-school children, calling on the Asset Management and Maintenance Agency to take over the maintenance of the school and all other state-owned facilities.
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He thanked the contractors for delivering the project on time, adding that the young contractors in charge of the CKS and Ewet Model School epitomise the “can-do” spirit that should be seen in every Akwa Ibom youth and used the occasion to call on youths to maximise the opportunities inherent in all the projects currently ongoing in the state.
Governor Eno announced plans to engage the services of consultants to ensure that teachers are adequately trained to enable them to deliver on their responsibilities and reiterated his goal to empower youths as well as provide them with the requirements to build their careers and live by acquiring a skill.
He directed the appointment of education monitors from the ten federal constituencies, whose duties, among others, will be to furnish him with adequate information on the infrastructure status of schools in rural areas, adding that 35 pupils from public schools will proceed on an exchange programme in the UK.
The Governor also called on Local Government Transition Chairmen to submit their scorecards, as he had earlier requested, before May 20th or risk being sanctioned.
He noted that the autonomy of the local government does not equate to non-performance on their part and urged them to replicate model schools in their local government areas while also using the people’s funds to deliver worthy projects and programmes.
In their separate remarks, the Uyo Local Government Transition Committee Chairman, Dr. Uwemedimo Udo, and other stakeholders, including the Paramount Ruler of Uyo, HRM Edidem Sylvanus Okon, as well as the head teachers of the two schools, appreciated the governor for overhauling their schools and pledged commitment to ensuring that the facilities are protected and put to good use.
