The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has sounded the alarm over the growing crisis in the state’s public secondary schools, not for lack of buildings, but for the absence of teachers.
At Tuesday’s plenary, lawmakers expressed serious concern about the shortage of teaching staff in key subjects, warning that students could face major setbacks in upcoming public examinations if urgent steps are not taken.
The warning came through a motion moved by Hon. Precious Selong under “Matters of Urgent Public Importance”. Representing Urue Offong/Oruko State Constituency, Selong highlighted that many schools, including those with high student numbers, do not have teachers in subjects such as English Language, Civic Education, Economics, Agricultural Science, Government, and Geography.
“This is no longer just a challenge; it is a full-blown crisis,” she said. “How can we expect students to pass their WAEC or NECO exams when there are no teachers to guide them?,” she queried.
Selong also pointed out that the teacher shortage threatens to derail Governor Umo Eno’s ARISE Agenda, particularly its focus on rural development and educational advancement.
“Beautiful classrooms mean nothing without qualified teachers inside them,” she added, even as she praised the Governor’s commitment to improving educational infrastructure.
In response, the Speaker of the House, Rt Hon. Udeme Otong, confirmed that the Governor has already given the green light for the immediate recruitment of new staff, including teachers. He instructed the Clerk of the House, Mrs Nsikakabasi Orok, to forward the resolution to the state’s executive arm without delay.
The Assembly also directed its Committee on Education to begin oversight duties to ensure that proper deployment of teachers follows any recruitment process.
With another academic session fast approaching, lawmakers are calling for action, not promises, to prevent thousands of students across the state from being left behind.
