By Aniefiok Christopher
The Open Forum Care for Humanity Foundation has urged Governor Umo Eno to expedite action on the reconstitution of an independent panel to investigate the deplorable state of boarding schools in Akwa Ibom State.
The President of Open Forum, Citizen Matthew Koffi Okono (MKO), who made the call during a press conference held at the Open Forum Centre, 128 Aka Etinan Road, Uyo, recently, stated that the conference is aimed at generating ideas and proposing workable measures to revamp the state education sector.
Okono expressed disappointment over the recent embarrassment at the Presbyterian Senior Science College, Ididep in Akwa Ibom, where the school was sanctioned for poor feeding of its boarding students.
Recall that the state government had suspended the school’s principal, Dr. Nse Sunday Umoh, pending an investigation into the matter.
Also read: Tinubu’s stance on fuel subsidy removal, contradictory- MKO Reveals
Okono advocated the dissolution of the committee set by the Akwa Ibom Education Ministry, recommending instead the adoption of the Akwa Ibom Road Map, which would provide a fair and impartial assessment of the issues affecting boarding schools in the state.
He argued that the Ministry of Education, under the Commissioner, Mrs Idongesit Etiebet, should not have constituted an investigation committee, as this contravenes the principle of natural justice.
“It is well stated in legal parlance that Nemo Judex Incausa Sua (No man should be a judge in his own case or cause),” he said.
The Open Forum founder emphasised the need for a holistic approach to addressing fundamental issues and proposed the establishment of a committee to regularly supervise hostels in boarding schools across the state.
Okono used the avenue to call on the State Government to investigate the allegations of corruption involving principals and the State Secondary Education Board to influence postings to choice schools in the state.
The allegation, he said, was captured in a widely circulated article on social media by a journalist, Mr Etim Etim who in his article entitled, “Presbyterian Senior Science College, Ididep: There’s more to the story,” has revealed that the main problem in the boarding schools has more to do with bribery and corruption allegedly perpetuated by the leadership of the State Secondary Education Board and school principals who bribe their way through to get juicy postings.
Speaking further, Citizen Okono said “Ignoring such weighty allegations will further create and or widen the trust deficit in the integrity of the government.”
He called for a diligent implementation of the Akwa Ibom Strategic Education Roadmap (AKSER) 2020-2030 which was produced during the Udom Emmanuel administration through the efforts of an 18-member Education Think-Tank headed by Prof. Hilary Inyang as a panacea to solving the teething problems in the education sector of the state.
