Commissioner of Education, Akwa Ibom State, Prof. Ubong Essien Umoh.
By Osondu Ahirika
The occasional clashes between Students of Secondary Schools in Uyo have sadly become a subculture.
It is no more a question of why they fight but when the next brawl will ensue.
Four Secondary Schools have earned this notoriety.
Government Technical College Ewet; Uyo High School; Christian Secondary Commercial School and Etoi Secondary School.
Recently, a student allegedly lost his life during the latest skirmish between Government Technical College and Uyo High School.
Records of grave injuries from previous brushes are countless with viewers’ discretion usually advised.
Truancy, cultism and gangsterism walk on all fours in this School.
By God’s divine privilege, I work with the Ethical and Attitudinal Reorientation Commission, (EARCOM).
Several visits to these schools and others across the State have not stemmed the tide of discord and bad blood between/within them.
While we need to reinforce sensitisation and campaign against cultism, bullying, gang wars and violence in these schools, much more needs to be done.
I hereby submit my proposal or recommendation on how this menace can be permanently halted.
1. The three Schools in the cluster that have gained notoriety for these incessant clashes should be annexed as one School with 3 campuses.
Accordingly, they can for instance be called:
*Government College (Technical ), Ewet Campus
*Uyo High School should be renamed- Government College(Oron Road Campus)
*Christian Secondary Commercial School should be renamed- Government College(Commercial) Obio Imo Campus.
2. Each campus maintains its School Management but with a senior Director or the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education as the Supervising Principal.
3. The three Schools should adopt the same uniform preferably with the State colours or the national colours.
4. Then a periodic tripartite assembly of the three schools in solemn assembly, games or retreats should be instituted for them to bond.
5. A common logo, motto and School anthem should be adopted for the three.
6. Awards and recognitions should be instituted for the best-behaved students and academic high fliers.
7. Finally, Police patrol vans should be permanently stationed around each campus or community policing volunteers should be deployed.
I reckon however that, at times the fighting is triggered by altercations between senior and junior students where it is intra-school.
The authorities can consider making either Uyo High School and Christian Secondary Commercial School, a Senior Secondary Campus or Junior Secondary Campus thus separating them.
One campus can remain mixed with internal measures to check molestation and bullying.
I humbly make these recommendations without claims to all knowledge or supposing that it is the most intelligent deconstruction of the ugly reality of these schools.
I however hope it can add to deepening the ongoing discourse on the trouble with these schools.
Ahirika is Head of Media and Advocacy Unit, EARCOM, Akwa Ibom State.
