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Akwa Ibom State Government has inaugurated a 15-member probe panel to investigate widespread cases of poor feeding of students across its 26 public boarding schools.
This followed the recent viral video on social media in which boarding students of Presbyterian Senior Science School (PSSS), Ididep in Ibiono Ibom local government area were shown being fed poor meal, raising protests by parents and concerned members of the society.
LEADERSHIP gathered that N60,000 was being paid as boarding fee each term with additional augmentation from the state government.
Miffed by the development, Governor Umo Eno has suspended the school principal pending the outcome of the investigative panel set up by government.
“The concerned authorities and officials of the supervising Ministry of Education and SSEB, are always hands in glove to embezzle the funds meant for feeding the children. The paltry sum remaining is what they left for the principal to manage.
“There’s a high level of negligence on the side of government officials in-charge of education in the state,” one of the angry parents said anonymously.
The committee has a charge to investigate the conditions of boarding facilities in public secondary and technical schools in the state within three weeks, with findings to be submitted on December 20, 2024.
The Committee has a retired Permanent Secretary in the State Civil Service, Mr. Ekanabasi Ubong as Chairman.
Inaugurating the committee, the Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Idongesit Etiebiet urged them to be honest and forthright in their report.
“Pastor Eno, who is very passionate in driving his vision in the education sector will ensure that your recommendations are implemented”, she assured.
She, therefore, charged them to among other things, “conduct a thorough investigation into the conditions of boarding facilities in secondary schools across the state and identify areas of concern, deficiencies, and potential risks to the health, safety, and well-being of students.”
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