A’Ibom state government suspends 71 students from school

The Akwa Ibom state government has suspended 71 students of Secondary School, Etoi, Uyo local government from school indefinitely for “unruly conduct”.

Their suspension was announced on 21st November by the state government’s education monitoring team.

The state governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel had said it will not hesitate to discipline any student found culpable in sabotaging the free and compulsory education programme of the state.

Commissioner for Education in the state Prof. Nse Essien said the suspension of the students was a result of preliminary investigations into an attack on the school principal and properties by the students on Wednesday, 20th November.

“Some senior students of the school had attempted to set the school building ablaze. They destroyed the school farm and properties. They equally held the principal hostage, and when policemen arrived to put the situation under control, they fought the police”, the commissioner said.

Prof. Essien advised the rest of the students to remain law abiding and expose bad eggs among them, declaring that any student that seeks transfer to any school must provide a transfer letter issued by the principal of his former school vouching for the character of such student.

During an inspection at Uyo High School, the Commissioner advised teachers against lateness to work, urging them to instill discipline in students in order to make them useful to the society.

He said government will not hesitate to sanction any teacher found wanting.

The commissioner was accompanied on the monitoring team by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education Mrs Helen Ante, Chairman, State Secondary Education Board, Mr. Umanah Sam Umanah, the SSA to the Governor on Education Monitoring, Mrs Idongesit Etiebet, the Director for Education Barr.Theresa Attih, the SA to the Governor on Research and Documentation Mr Essien Ndueso, the State chairman National Parents Teachers Association of Nigeria( NAPTAN) Mr Emmanuel Ataideh among others.

Meanwhile, the state education monitoring team led by the Senior Special Assistant on Education Monitoring to the governor, Mrs. Idongest Etiebet, has directed principals to query teachers who reported late to work and those who were absent without permission.

She noted that it is appropriate for teachers to come to school by 7:30am and be part of the morning devotion, and they should develop notes of lesson to enhance their teaching exercises.

Etiebet warned teachers and students against loitering during school hours.