GOV UMO ENO DECLARES STATE OF EMERGENCY ON PRIMARY EDUCATION … orders immediate remodelling of CKS primary school, ors.

By evangelist.com.ng edition, Saturday 15, 2023.

Public Primary Schools in Akwa Ibom State are in for better days as Governor Umo Eno has directed immediate renovation and upgrade of facilities in primary institutions beginning with Christ The King Primary School, Wellington Bassey Way. Uyo.

Christ the King Primary School, CKS, which is to serve as a model of the state government’s vision for primary education, would be upgraded to standard with the renovation of structures, provision of educational materials, solar lights, pipe borne water and staff quarters.

In line with the rural development thrust of his administration’s A.R.I.S.E. Agenda, the governor said besides replicating the model in schools in the rural areas, the state government will provide special incentives for teachers in rural and riverine areas to encourage teachers perform maximally in those communities.

Governor Eno gave the directives when he embarked on an unscheduled inspection of facilities at Christ the King Primary School, Wellington Bassey Way, Uyo.

The Governor, while inspecting the facilities also 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 them, to work for them. We are delivering on the campaign promises we made to Akwa Ibom people. Education is a key thing in the A.R.I.S.E. Agenda and so we are determine, especially at the grassroots level. The grassroot level in Education begins with the primary school.

“This school is next to Government house. So it should be a model. We want to start here to create that model primary school we’re talking about. I have just interacted with the pupils, they are vacating on the 28th, we will use that holiday to remodel this school, working very hard with the Ministry of Housing, the Architect and the rest.

“I believe we should invest in this Children, and 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 for teachers that are posted there, we will encourage them”, he assured.

He spoke with nostalgia on the good old days when accommodation was provided for teachers within a school vicinity, maintaining that the arrangement was a morale booster to enhanced their efficiency as the teachers had a strong grasp of the children in character and learning and therefore 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 SSG 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 this Children, and this is when to catch them young. Schools 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 for teachers that are posted there, we will encourage them”, he stated.

The Governor directed the Ministry of Housing to expedite action on the remodeling of the school to fit it with solar lighting system for all round power supply and other facilities within three months.

Impressed with the dutiful Headmistress, Mrs Eme Joseph Bassey and the comportment of the pupils during their exams, Governor Eno directed the immediate and special promotion of the Headmistress, warning that she should not be posted out of the school.

In her interaction with newsmen from Government House, the overtly excited Headmistress, Mrs Eme Bassey, thanked the Governor for the visit, stating that despite the proximity of the school to Government House, no governor has ever visited the school to know its challenges.

Mrs Bassey expressed appreciation on the decision of the state administration to remodel the institution, saying that God has used the occasion of the inspection visit to elevate her on the profession and expressed appreciation to the Governor for the special promotion given her.