Akwa Ibom state Governor Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, has announced that education remains free and compulsory at primary and secondary levels in the state.
Also, he has assured that WAEC and NABTEB fees for students in the state would be paid promptly.
The Governor made the commitment when he joined teachers and students in the celebration of this year’s Children’s Day.
While addressing critical stakeholders in the education sector at the Uyo Township stadium, Uyo., he urged chicken to take advantage of the free education to build a solid foundation for themselves.
With the theme: “Enhancing the Total Well-Being of the Nigerian Child through Quality Education and Skills Development,” he said the theme mirrors his ARISE Agenda’s vision of building model schools across the state.
In addition , he said the completion of the Dakkada Skills Acquisition Centre (DASAC), was designed to produce highly skilled manpower for a technologically-driven society.
The Chief Press Secretary Ekerete Udoh in a Facebook post said highlighted Governor’s plans for students.
He said he has revealed that the students from public schools screened and selected for participation in the Educational Exchange Programme with the London Borough of Southwark will soon embark on the trip.
“We have made a conscious effort to ensure that the quality of teachers we employ are up to date with modern teaching techniques and tools,” said Eno.
He explained, that’s because the majority of Akwa Ibom pupils attend public schools.
“The selection of the teachers will be done through regular attendance of refresher courses,”he announced.
Again, “We have announced the recruitment of education monitors to ensure strict adherence to this policy.”
Therefore, “We are not just providing a conducive environment and trained teachers.
According him, they are also equipping the pupils with the necessary skills, especially in ICT and entrepreneurial skills.
He warned parents and guardians Against guiding their children for ills such as cultism, drug abuse, and other vices that may inhibit their growth and development.
For instance, he said the biblical injunction in Proverbs 23:6 has brought home a vivid admonition.
‘Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it,” he quoted.
Truth Live News learned that the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Dr. Ini Adiakpan, appreciated the Governor for the free and compulsory education in the state.
She also lauded him for the engagement of quality teachers, the commissioning of Christ the King Model Primary School at Wellington Bassey Way and Government Model Primary School, Ewet Offot.