Etinan: Concerns rise over deteriorating infrastructure at Ikot Nte community school
• Students standing in front of one of the collapsed classroom blocks at CSCS, Ikot Nte
Itoro Bassey
Students, teachers, and local residents are expressing their frustration over the inadequate and collapsed infrastructure at Community Secondary Commercial School, Ikot Nte, in the Etinan Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
For years, the school has been lacking the necessary facilities to truly become a center of learning. This has not only made providing quality education more challenging, but it has also led to a decline in student enrollment and discouraged teachers from transferring to the school.
During a visit to the school, recently, Sifon Samuel Tommy, a Senior Secondary School ll student of the school, described the absence of a library as particularly troubling, stating that it severely hampers the learning experience.
“Learning would be much easier if we had a dedicated space with good books available for us to read. Many of us struggle to perform well in our exams because we lack proper reading resources.
“It’s disheartening that our school does not have a library where students can study. If we weren’t so determined to succeed, reaching our final year would have been nearly impossible,” she remarked.
Sifon noted that the school has faced numerous challenges since she enrolled. In addition to the lack of a library, she pointed out the shortage of classrooms, absence of computers, and inadequate equipment in the science laboratories. She remains hopeful that the state government will address these issues that hinder access to quality education.
“Community Secondary Commercial School, Ikot Nte, feels like my second home. I’ve been here for few years, and the problems extend beyond just crumbling classrooms. We lack computers, libraries, and even our science lab is filled with broken chairs and no equipment,” she explained.
She gestured toward a nearby classroom, saying, “That class is roofless; it was meant for SS2 students, but now they’ve been crammed into a poorly ventilated room.”
Dismal learning environment
The shocking condition of three classroom blocks at the school is almost unimaginable. This reporter observed that the ceilings have collapsed and the walls are so unstable that students had to be evacuated to other buildings for safety. The school authorities feared that the structures could collapse at any moment, which could have led to a potential disaster.
Only two classroom blocks serving both the Junior and Senior sections have roofs in relatively good condition, forcing students from the other blocks, whose roofs have fallen in, to seek shelter in the dilapidated facilities.
Community members say the decline of the school’s infrastructure began years ago, with classrooms, furniture, restrooms, and staff quarters falling into disrepair.
“The situation is beyond our control. We’ve written several letters to the state government, complete with photographs of the appalling conditions of the classroom blocks, but we have yet to receive any meaningful response,” a source from the school, who wished to remain anonymous, lamented.
On the school grounds, a solar-powered borehole facility has been installed to guarantee a sustainable water supply for both staff and students. Additionally, solar-powered street lights have been set up, thanks to the generous contributions of the members of Ikot Nte USA/Worldwide Forum, as part of its ‘Project Light Up Ikot Nte’ initiative. However, it is clear that further efforts are needed to improve the overall situation.
A senior official at the school, speaking confidentially, expressed deep concern over the lack of basic facilities, including adequate classrooms and indoor restrooms.
“We lack proper classrooms, toilets, libraries, and laboratories. Some of our classrooms are in ruins. While generous community members have helped us install a borehole and solar-powered lights, much more needs to be done.
“Our laboratory is completely empty. In this modern age, where computers are essential for learning, we have none. The staffroom is unusable, and the staff toilet is in disrepair.
“Students are forced to relieve themselves in the nearby bushes. The school is also unfenced. I sincerely hope the government will come to our aid and support the students”.
Parents worried, want speedy intervention
Chief Joshua Amos, the village head, voiced his frustration over the inadequate facilities and the complete lack of some essential services, noting that these issues have led to a persistent problem with teacher transfers at the school.
Alongside the PTA Chairman, Obong Nathaniel Tom, and concerned parents—Akpan David Akpan, Otuekong Samuel Bassey, Dickson Udo Dickson, and Ini Joseph Akpan—they revealed that most teachers assigned to the school have opted to leave shortly after their postings. They cited poor access roads, lack of electricity, ruined teachers’ quarters, and an overall unsatisfactory teaching environment as reasons for their departures.
“Many teachers have been assigned to this school, but they consistently seek transfers and leave immediately. Their reasons include the absence of a reliable road to the community, lack of electricity, insufficient housing for teachers, and a poor teaching environment, among other necessities that would encourage them to stay,” Chief Amos explained.
Mr. Jonathan Abasiubong, the village project coordinator, pointed out that these challenges are directly linked to the collapse of the Ikot Nte–Mbioto II bridge, which once facilitated the movement of people, goods and services throughout the area, thereby connecting the communities.
Abasiubong emphasised that if Governor Umo Eno were to respond quickly and provide assistance, the school and surrounding communities could regain their momentum and resume their usual business activities.
Netizens react
When the dire situation in Ikot Nte surfaced online in early March, it sparked significant outrage among social media users, who expressed their concerns about the deteriorating conditions of the community school and the collapse of the Ikot Obio Eka-Ikot Ibok-Ikot Nte-Mbioto II Road.
Aniebiet Sunday, a former teacher at Community Secondary Commercial School, Ikot Nte, remarked: “I was transferred to their secondary school some years ago. Everything about this community is nothing to write home about”.
Another commenter, Itoro Clement, expressed frustration, stating, “Ikot Nte, Ikot Ibok, Ikot Ese, and other nearby villages are in dire straits. Sometimes, I wonder if there are any government representatives in this area. My late mother was from Ikot Ese, and I rarely visit my aunts there due to how fragmented the entire area has become.”
Christopher Charlie, clearly concerned, added, “Ikot Nte and Ikot Umiang Ede are among the most neglected communities in Akwa Ibom.”
Over the years, Ikot Nte has given rise to a remarkable array of accomplished individuals, including international football star and captain of the Nigerian Super Eagles, William Troost-Ekong, and Ufot Ekong, a Nigerian prodigy who solved a 30-year-old mathematical problem at a university in Tokyo. Ufot is now making cars for Nissan and holds two patents, including one for an electric vehicle he built himself.
The achievements of the Ekongs suggest that there are many more hidden talents in Ikot Nte waiting to be discovered.
As Governor Umo Eno plans to establish a model secondary school with state-of-the-art boarding facilities in each of the three Senatorial Districts as part of his educational advancement initiative outlined in the ARISE Agenda, it would be prudent for the government to take decisive actions to improve the dire conditions of some of its community schools.
