Akwa Ibom State government has lauded the management of Engineering Automation Technology Limited (EATECH) for investing over N35million in the rehabilitation and equipment of Biology and Chemistry laboratories of St. Mary’s Senior Science College, Ediene-Abak.
Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Idongesit Etiebet, who stated this at the inauguration of the laboratories in Abak, at the weekend, tasked other corporate organisations doing business in the state to partner the government in boosting infrastructure and quality of teaching and learning in the state.
Etiebet, represented by Mrs. Roseline Anthony Mfon, Director, State Education Assurance Service, said education should be seen as a joint venture between public and private sector and that the state would welcome any private sector firm wiling to assist upgrade infrastructure in its public schools.
She said government should not be allowed as sole financiers of public schools.
“We are very grateful for what EATECH has done in this science college and we are charging the teachers to use these laboratories to bring out the best in the students. Akwa Ibom State government is ever ready to partner with the private sector in improving the quality of its education sector,” she said.
Managing Director/CEO of EATECH, Dr. Emmanuel Okon, while handing over the laboratories to the school, said the investment of was part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). He recalled visiting the two laboratories of the foremost science college and finding them dilapidated, abandoned and overtaken by weeds and rodents.
“I graduated from the school more than 33 years ago, but during a visit two years ago, I was shocked that the foremost science college that has produced great alumni making waves within and outside the country was without functioning biology and chemistry laboratories. Given the role of science and technology in shaping today’s global economy, businesses and even politics, it is tragic for the present and posterity of this state and indeed the country, to shuffle students through this school without the requisite laboratories for teachers and students to explore, experiment, innovate, make mistakes, learn and grow at the same competitive level as their peers around the world. This intervention in the most modern laboratories that could be found anywhere in the world cost us about N35million and it is our little contribution, as part of our corporate social responsibility (CSR), in closing the infrastructure gap in this school and creating the right teaching and learning environment for teachers and students,” he said.
Okon tasked the principal, teachers and students to make good use of the facilities and also ensure safety and proper maintenance for posterity.