By Solomon Umanah
UYO
A total of N1.5 billion has been expended by the Akwa Ibom government for payment of West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) fees for exiting students in public secondary schools across the state.
The commissioner for education, Mrs. Idongesit Etiebet, who disclosed this, Thursday, during the distribution of the ARISE customised exercise books to head teachers in Uyo Senatorial District, said the gesture was targeted towards educational advancement of the state, thereby reducing the financial burden on parents and students, particularly the indigent students.
Etiebet, who expressed appreciation to Governor Umo Eno for ensuring prompt release of funds for payment of WAEC and NABTEB fees for the students, averred that the authorities in neighbouring states had since discontinued with such payments, stressing, “over the years, Akwa Ibom State Government had consistently ensured that WAEC and NABTEB fees are paid for our students in the exiting classes, and this year, about N1.5 billion has been paid for this purpose,” she affirmed.
The education commissioner enumerated other strides recorded by the governor within the last one year as, payment of bursary to Akwa Ibom students in public tertiary institutions; establishment of 100 million naira Educational Trust Fund for disabled students of Akwa Ibom origin studying in public tertiary institutions across the country; award of 250,000 and 300,000 scholarships to undergraduate and postgraduate disabled students in public tertiary institutions, respectively, and expressed optimism that the beneficiaries would reciprocate the gesture by registering impressive marks in their academics.
She further listed other achievements of the governor to include, provision of congenial teaching and learning environments for teachers and pupils in public schools; prompt payment of teachers’ salaries, in addition to the monthly payment of arrears of gratuities owed by the state government to retired teachers, among others.
Etiebet, who had earlier expressed appreciation to Governor Umo Eno for re-appointing her as commissioner in the Ministry of Education, said the governor’s gesture had provided her “the platform to witness the educational advancement of the state.”
The education boss, who attributed the governor’s superlative performance as evidenced in all sectors of the state to his painstaking effort in compiling life-changing blue-print even before his electioneering campaigns, thanked the governor for fulfilling the promises made to Akwa Ibom people, particularly in the education sector.
In an opening remark, the permanent secretary in the ministry, Mrs. Stella Etukakpan, commended Governor Eno for fulfilling the promise of revamping the education sector, especially in the building of model schools across the state, provision of school bags, school shoes and exercise books to pupils in public primary schools.
Etukakpan said the event was a continuation of the exercise earlier commissioned by Governor Eno during the inauguration of Christ the King and Ewet Offot Model Schools in Uyo, where he directed that the exercise books be delivered to pupils in all public primary schools in the state.
She, however, urged the head teachers to ensure that the exercise books were conveyed to the pupils as directed.
Speaking at the occasion, the chairman, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Mr Anietie Etuk, lauded Governor Eno for “burying all the opposing voices through landmark achievements,” within his first year in office.
Etuk, who spoke through the Board member in-charge of School Services, Sir John Udo, congratulated the commissioner for education, Mrs. Idongesit Etiebet, on the successful distribution of the exercise books to the beneficiaries.
The SUBEB boss expressed delight over the high standards of performances by pupils and students in public schools in the state, and praised Governor Eno for the giant strides recorded in the education sector of the state through effective funding of the sector.
He warned the teachers against collection of monies for whatever reason from the pupils or their parents, adding that flouting such rule will be met with severe sanction.
Speaking on behalf of head teachers in Uyo Senatorial District, Mr Simon Udo, thanked Gov Umo Eno for his passionate disposition towards educational advancement in the state and pledged the smooth delivery of the exercise books to the pupils in the respective schools.
Udo, who is the head of headteachers in Uyo Senatorial District, commended the education commissioner, Mrs. Idongesit Etiebet, for ensuring effective implementation of the educational policies and programmes of the current administration in the state.
Goodwill messages were received from various education stakeholders, among whom were, the senior special assistant to the governor on Research and Documentation, Dr Ndueso Essien; Dean, College of Personal Assistants to the governor in the wards, Mr Aniefiok James, among others.
High point of the occasion was the presentation of the customised exercise books to the head teachers in Uyo Senatorial District for onward transmission to the pupils by the commissioner for education, Etiebet, assisted by other dignitaries at the event.
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