Akwa Ibom State Governor, His Excellency Pastor Umo Bassey Eno on Friday commissioned the remodelled Christ the King Model Primary School and Government School Ewet Offot, Uyo, the State capital.
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 the state citizens.
He stated that from the tailoring of uniforms to making of shoes, school bags amongst others for the students to enable them to learn comfortably were all handled by Akwa Ibom artisans and 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 having 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 from the primary school level.
“We are replicating this Model in all the local Government areas of this state. This is a bold initiative and at this point I dare say that the government cannot do it alone.
I hereby call on organizations, corporate entities to immortalize their names by adopting a school and build to our specification or even exceed 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, this uniform is made here in Akwa Ibom by tailors here.
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.
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 maximize 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 deliver on their responsibilities and reiterate 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 school will proceed on an exchange programme in the UK.
The Governor also called on Local Government Transition Chairmen to submit their score cards as he had earlier requested, before the 20th of May or risk being sanctioned.
He noted that autonomy of the local government does not equate 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 Transmission 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.
