Embarrassed by an online video showing boarding students of Presbyterian Senior Science College, Ididep, Ibiono Ibom LGA, being fed with what it called, “unpalatable and innutritous meals”, the Akwa Ibom State government has ordered investigation into the horrid situation.
In a press release dated 23rd November 2024, and signed by the Commissioner of Education, Mrs Idongesit Etiebet, the State Government noted that the order to investigate the situation followed, “the very disturbing video.”
Etiebet said that in response to this, she “paid an unscheduled visit to the school”, where she directed “a comprehensive investigation into the state of boarding facilities in the school and the other 25 boarding secondary schools across the state.”
In the said video, first posted online by a human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, and later escalated by WatchmanPost on its Facebook page, the students were seen being served garri with what looked like coloured water passed off as soup.
The video has attracted thousands of reactions, most of which condemned the starvation meal those kids were being served.
Some netizens expressed the view that the poor meal may actually be a reflection of how little the students pay for it.
The press release stated further that “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.”
Mrs. Etiebet also announced “the immediate suspension of the Principal of the school, Dr. Nse Sunday Umoh, pending the outcome of the investigation.”
She added, “We appeal 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.”
