By Mfonobong Ukpong
Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, has mandated the Ministry of Education to initiate and sustain public awareness campaign on radio, television, print media and social media on the dangers posed by illegal schools in the State.
The House also wants the Ministry of Education to commence and sustain a vigorous campaign of closing down illegal schools operating in the State, and has mandated the House Committee on Education to carry out an oversight on the matter.
This was the resolution of the House reached, Wednesday at plenary sequel to a motion ‘on the urgent need to clamp down on illegal Nursery and Primary Schools operating in the State’ brought by the member representing Essien Udim State Constituency, Barr. Prince Ukpong Akpabio pursuant to order lll(three) rule 1(one) of the standing orders of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly(Seventh edition).
Prince Akpabio had reminded his colleagues that sound and quality education remains the bedrock for development in any given society today, “and that the foundation for the educational advancement of any human being is best secured at the earliest stage of development which in our educational system is at the Nursery and Primary levels” and further acknowledging the strides achieved by successive administrations in the State “ in the advancement of every Akwa Ibom child, particularly under the free and compulsory education policy of the State” he raised the alarm that certain unscrupulous individuals were endangering the future of Akwa Ibom children by operating illegal schools, hence appropriate measures be taken to checkmate the anomaly.
The lawmakers were unanimous in their support for the motion, commending the Essien Udim representative for bringing up the matter
Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Udeme Otong who presided over the day’s plenary, had directed the Clerk of the Assembly, Mrs. Nsikabasi Orok to communicate the resolution of the House to appropriate quarters for immediate action.
