Akwa Ibom Government Gives Marching Order in School Enrollment

Akwa Ibom Government Gives Marching Order in School Enrollment

Akwa Ibom State Government has issued a marching order to head teachers, classroom teachers, parents and community leaders to intensify efforts in mobilizing pupils for enrollment in public schools, beginning with the resumption of 2025/2026 academic session, 15th of next month.

Executive Chairman, State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, Rt. Hon. Anietie Etuk, Ph.D gave the charge during the Advocacy Visit for 2025 Enrolment Drive for head teachers, community leaders and other stakeholders in Abak, Etim Ekpo and Ika Local Government Areas.

At the meeting in Etim Ekpo Local Government Secretariat, Utu Etim Ekpo, Rt. Hon. Etuk noted with worry that despite huge investments in free and compulsory basic education, infrastructure upgrades, payment of teachers’ salaries and provision of educational materials, enrolment figures in many public schools have continued to dwindle.

The SUBEB boss described the development as unacceptable and inconsistent with the vision of Governor Pastor Umo Eno’s administration to reposition education as the bedrock of sustainable development under the ARISE Agenda.

He directed head teachers and Local Education Authority officials among other stakeholders to reinvigorate community engagement through sensitization campaigns to parents and guardians on the benefits of public education.

Rt. Hon. Etuk said to ensure accountability and transparency, head teachers must provide accurate enrolment data and work closely with education supervisors to monitor progress and collaborate with traditional institutions, religious bodies and community-based organizations to promote school enrolment and retention.

Also speaking, Board member in charge of Planning, Research and Statistics, Elder Godwin Enoidem emphasized that free and compulsory education at the primary and junior secondary levels remains a core policy and warned that negligence or laxity on the part of school administrators and community leaders will no longer be tolerated.

Permanent Secretary, State Universal Basic Education Board, Dr. Roseline Mfon reaffirmed government’s commitment to giving every child equal access to quality education and calls on parents, guardians and all stakeholders to play their roles in securing a brighter future for the next generation.

Receiving the delegation, Chairman of Etim Ekpo Local Government, Hon. Gideon Uwa, represented by the Vice Chairman, Mrs Choice Lazarus and the Supervisor for Education, commended SUBEB for its efforts in improving school infrastructure, teacher training and providing learning materials and pledged support to the advocacy campaign and promised to mobilize parents, traditional rulers, religious leaders, community-based organizations and stakeholders to ensure that every child of school age is enrolled in school for the 2025 academic session.

At an interactive session, stakeholders expressed concern over the proliferation of nursery schools and called on the government to step up monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to ensure compliance assuring of support for improved service delivery.