Centre for Human Rights and Advocacy Network (CHRAN), a Civil Society Organization in Akwa Ibom, has called on the Akwa Ibom State Government to review the law establishing the State College of Education, Afaha Nsit, Nsit Ibom Local Government Area, with a view to upgrading the college to the status of a university.
Its State Director, Otuekong Franklyn Isong, and Secretary, Barrister Christopher Ekpo, in a statement jointly signed by them expressed their concerns that the College, established in October 1990, has been losing its student population to universities over the years as parents seem to prefer a university that offers a four-year degree programme to the College, where students enrol for a three-year National Certificate of Education (NCE) programme.
CHRAN observed that, though section 2(c) of the Akwa Ibom State College of Education Law, Cap. 31, Vol. 2, Laws of Akwa Ibom State, 2022 empowers the College to award degrees, that can only be done in affiliation with a university, as can be gleaned from section 4(2)(c) of the Akwa Ibom State College of Education Law, which makes the Dean of the Faculty of Education, University of Uyo a statutory member of the College Council.
CHRAN commended the Provost, Prof. Daniel Udo, and the management of the College for the relative peace enjoyed in the institution.
The group stated that, it was involved at some point in efforts to resolve the dispute between the management of the College and the trade union in 2022/2023, which arose from the suspension of some union leaders on account of their activities in the College.
It thanked the Provost for resolving the dispute and paying the affected unionists their salaries as was directed by the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly.
The Centre called on the unionists to close ranks with the College management to facilitate the realisation of the mission and objectives of the College, maintaining that no progress can be achieved in an environment of rancour, acrimony and malice.
It decried the lack of a master plan for the College, internal roads, lack of electricity and perimeter fencing, observing that developments are being carried out haphazardly and indiscriminately in the College due to the absence of a master plan.
Provost of the College, Prof. Daniel Udo, applauded CHRAN for the visit, adding that he has worked towards ensuring a peaceful and safe environment for learning in the College since his assumption of office.
Prof. Udo lauded the State Government for providing funds for the College for the successful accreditation of all NCE programmes and 10 out of 11 degree programmes.
He also commended Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) for several infrastructural interventions in the College even as he called for increased intervention and funding.
The CHRAN team comprising Isong and Ekpo, as well as Comrade Theresa Donatus, Comrade Michael Bassey and Comrade Bonny Favorite, were conducted around facilities at the College by the Provost and management of the institution.
