Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Education, Idongesit Etiebet, has announced the suspension of Nse Sunday Umoh, the Principal-General of Presbyterian Senior Science College, Ididep, over poor feeding of boarding students in the hostel.
The commissioner said officials of the ministry decided to pay an unscheduled visit to the public school following an outcry from students against malnutrition, despite a huge amount of money paid as boarding fees to the school management.
She explained that the condition of the students was made public in a viral video trending on social media, which caught the attention of the public and the government.
Etiebet disclosed that the incident compelled the government to order an investigation into the state of boarding facilities in the school, as well as in the other 25 boarding schools in the state.
This review, which will focus on hostels, dining halls, recreation areas, menu, kitchen, and sanitary facilities, will be jointly overseen by the Permanent Secretaries of the Ministry of Education and the State Secondary Education Board.
“Consequently, I have also directed the immediate suspension of the Principal of the school, Dr. Nse Sunday Umoh, pending the outcome of the investigation.”
The Commissioner noted that despite the fact that the free education policy of the state government covers tuition fees only and not boarding fees, the welfare and dignity of all students, especially those in public schools, remain a priority of the Umo Eno-led administration.
She therefore appealed to parents, who have already been greatly relieved of the burden of tuition fees, to undertake basic parental responsibilities to support their children in secondary schools.
“The Ministry is committed to ensuring that all public school facilities meet irreducible minimum standards that uphold the well-being of both learners and staff. We urge the public to remain patient while this investigation lasts.
