71 students from the well respected Government Secondary School, Etoi in Uyo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State have been indefinitely suspended from the school for allegedly attempting to burn down the school.
Reports have it that the students who are alleged to be cult members took law into their hands and damaged the school property.
The students also went as far as holding the Principal hostage for several hours after attacking security personnel in the school.
Prof Nse Essien, the Commissioner for Education made the announcement of the suspension known when he led some management staff of the ministry and other stakeholders in the education sector to assess the situation. Part of the reason for his visit is to find a lasting solution to this menace.
In utter shock, the commissioner of education mentioned that the school is the right of everyone and thus should be protected by everyone for the benefit of mankind. He also made it known that the Akwa Ibom State Government would not fold its hands and allow hooligans take over the school.
The commissioner further said that aside from the suspension that has been given to the students, anyone found guilty would face the full force of the law.
Professor Essien made mention of the fact that majority of those who caused the havoc are not students of this school. He then enjoined security bodies and well meaning members of the society to join hands together and fish out the rotten eggs polluting the society.
In the words of the commissioner, he said “All the 71 pupils will be suspended indefinitely for their part in the acts of violence and insubordination, except proven otherwise.”
“We got some of the names through intelligence. This measure is meant to sanitise the system and serve as deterrent to others” he further said.
For those who joined in vandalising school property and would also be writing WASSCE, he said their names would be omitted from the list to pass a message across to others in the lower levels who want to carry out such act now or later in the future.
Teachers coming late to school, not taking their duty seriously and not instilling discipline in the students are part of the reasons who thus act happens in the first place, the commissioner mentioned. He further emphasised that teachers who fail to do their job well will face the consequence of their actions.
