… Commissions Holy Child Convent Model Primary School In Abak
By Timothy Ekpo
ABAK
The Akwa Ibom government has said that the provision of a world-class primary school in the 31 local government areas in the State was to restore confidence in the development of the Akwa Ibom child for the future.
Governor Umo Eno stated this at the commissioning of Holy Child Convent Model Primary School, Abak, where be urged community responsibility in the protection of the facility.
Represented by the deputy governor, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, the governor said his administration’s decision to construct 31 model primary school across the State, was due to the value his government attaches to education.
He stated that there was need by government to lay a good foundation and having understood the advantage of education and its essence in securing a prosperous future for Akwa Ibom children, families and the State, and quoted a former United States president, Abraham Lincoln, who said “the best way to predict the future, is to create it”.
The governor noted that the facility was a deliberate policy to provide a free world-class education for children in attractive environment, not only to predict a glorious future for the State, but consciously creating it, adding that only the future would reveal the actual worth of the investmentineducation and human capacity development.
Eno stated that with the provision of the model schools, government was gradually restoring the confidence of pupils in public schools, saying that over the years, dilapidated infrastructure and poor human capital development, had led to the abandonment of public schools by middle class families for children from poor homes.
The state chief executive officer opined that it was the believe of government that public schools should accommodate the rich and poor and co exist with functional private schools in the State.
The governor hinted that the facility was equipped with state-of-the-art facilities such as a solar system for round the clock power supply to aid teaching and learning, staff accommodation, to enable government maximise their productivity.
He disclosed that free uniforms, exercise books and sandals, made in Akwa Ibom would be provided, stressing that as recently announced at the commissioning of Model Primary School, Ukoyukim in Oron Local Government Area, it was the responsibility of the head teachers, community and local government to protect the school facilities from vandals.
“The duty to protect rests in the hands of the local government, in the hands of the teachers, the head teacher and in the hands of Abak people. We cannot have this edifice and come in the night to deface it, or take away equipment meant for the children, hence the security part of it. Yes, Ibom Community Watch, when later we conclude the Abak sector, I want to call on the local government to provide security, day and night.
He advised pupils against absenteeism and truancy and appreciated the contractor for the timely delivery of the project and also urged all stakeholders to play their role to sustain government initiative for the benefit of the people.
The commissioner for education, Professor Ubong Umo, said the facility has 19 rooms, well furnished laboratory, ICT centre, Television sets, sick bay, teachers’ offices, waiting room, assembly hall, auditorium, library, play ground and football pitch.
The immediate past deputy governor, Mr Moses Ekpo, said the school before now was an eyesore, noting that with the State government intervention, the pupils would be encouraged to attend school.
The chairman of Abak Local Government Area, Mrs Ime Charles, said the provision of the facility was timely, as children had no conducive place to learn.
Charles commended governor Eno for the gesture and promised that the Holy Child Convent Model Primary School, Abak would be protected .
The head teacher, Mrs. Brigid Udo, thanked the State government for the initiative, saying there was hope for the pupils to learn.
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