A/Ibom takes over 7 community schools

Akwa Ibom State government has approved the upgrading and taking over of seven community schools across the state.

Also, transport operators in the state are to henceforth benefit from an insurance scheme to cushion the effect of accidents while in service.

These were part of the decisions taken during the state executive council meeting, presided over by Governor Udom Emmanuel.

A Charles Udoh, commissioner for information and strategy,  listed the affected schools to include Community Technical College, Ikot Udoe, Ikot Ekpene, Urban High School, Ikot Akpan Essien, Oruk Anam, Excellence Comprehensive Secondary School, Ikot Uya, Mkpat Enin, Migrant Secondary School, Emeruke, Eastern Obolo, Community Comprehensive Secondary School, Ekeya, Okobo, Union Secondary School, Ibiaku, Ibono Ibom and Community Secondary School, Urua Obo/Ikot Ata Usung/Ikot Obong Odoro, Ikot Ekpene.

Udoh explained that the schools which were owned by the communities did not benefit in the free education programme of the government adding that government decided to take over the schools in its bid to provide qualitative and free education to more communities.

He said from the beginning of the new schools’ season by September this year, the affected schools will start benefiting from the scheme.

On the insurance scheme for transport operators, Udoh said that five percent of the amount paid as taxes, will be deposited with the insurance company in trust and all the participants will be entitled to some benefits in the event of an accident.

He said that the insurance scheme became necessary to guarantee the losses by transporters in event of accident and that the scheme would be founded through a five percent deduction from daily ticketing revenue received from  transport operators.

“The governor has approved that transport operators from now on should benefit from an insurance scheme. The idea of the scheme is to ensure that their losses are taken care of in an event of an accident.  Five percent of daily tickets would be remitted to the insurance company which would bear part of the risk in case of accident.”

ANIEFIOK UDONQUAK, Uyo