Free Edu: Activist Advocates Establishment of Model Schools in 31 LGs of A’Ibom By Tony Esin A child right activist, Iboro Ottu, has made a case for the establishment of model schools in each of the 31 local government areas of Akwa Ibom State to balance the ‘free and compulsory’ education policy of the state government. Iboro Ottu, a lecturer in the Department of Psycology, University of Uyo, dropped the hint during the public presentation/launching of the book “The Journey of a Houseboy to Significance,” written by Paul Iwok, the Executive Director of Organisation for Education and Peaceful Co-existence (OREPCON). The event was held, Wednesday at the Governor’s Office Annex, Wellinton Bassey Way, Uyo. According to Ottu, the model schools would help in training the vulnerable children who have been victims of servitude to be self-reliant. It would be recalled that Rivers State set the pace in establishing model schools when the Gov. Rotimi Amaechi demolished some primary schools to build ultra-modern primary schools across the state in 2012; a development which the Minister for Information, Labaran Maku said would rather create disparity between the pupils who attend the less-developed schools and those who pass through the model schools, when he visited the projects during the last good governance tour. The model schools are equipped with modern facilities, including ICT, standard sporting facilities, farms, libraries, workshops and laboratories. Ottu who was the book’s reviewer, while referring to the author’s allusion to the free and compulsory education as a stratagem for eliminating child servitude said, “we commend the government for the free and compulsory education and rehabilitation of public schools which is a good approach in bringing out our young boys and girls from the misery of servitude. However, government should focus on the quality of students that emerge from our public primary and secondary schools. “Moreover, to win the entire war against servitude, government should set up a model school in each of the 31 local government areas in the state for our children retrieved from the nooks and crannies of the world.” In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Special Duties, Nester Udoh, who represented the Commissioner for Special Duties, Emmanuel Enoidem as the Chairman of the occasion, expressed displeasure over the low turnout of people at the event. Dr. Udoh doubted why people would always turn out en masse for political events but would not attend essential occasions like book launch. The Chairman, Ethical and Attitudinal Re-orientation Commission (EARCOM), Deaconess Christy Obot said the agency became interested in Mr. Paul Iwok whom she referred to as ‘Houseboy Emeritus’, after he made an impressive presentation during the first Stakeholders meeting of EARCOM in April this year. She said, “we are happy today that the seed sown on that day has yielded fruit. Why EARCOM showcases Houseboy Emeritus, Mr. Iwok is to replicate more Akwa Ibom youths who have similar experiences as houseboys and house girls to realize that all hope is not lost.”
Posted on: Thu, 28 Nov 2013 11:57:35 +0000
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