By Jimmy Jackson
The teacher Essien Ita Itam Foundation Board of Trustee has approved scholarship award for fifty beneficiaries in the Southern Senatorial District of Cross River state.
This was contained in a statement released by the Board, dated December 5, 2023 and signed by Ekpenyong Esien Ita (Koko) for the chairman, listing areas the award covers.
According to the statement, the award covers, Tuition Fees, Book allowance, WAEC/NECO examinations fees, and Boarding fees:
“Fund was set up in 2014 by my late wife Barrister Temitope Ekpenyong Ita in memory of my late father. She was a strong advocate of access to education by every child, especialy the girl child.
“However, access to basic education by every child has since gone beyond the reach of a large number of Nigerian children.
“Consequently, children so deprived are unable to make informed choices about life, provide opportunities, create money or stimulate the economy and a healthier life.
“The ever widening gap between the “haves and the have nots” in educational opportunities in the Cross River South Senatorial District is what the Trust Fund is determined to bridge. I believe that children are the heart of every society and education wil enable them as good citizens to take on life challenges confidently and also contribute to building peaceful, secured and sustainable communities.” The statement reads.
In the same vein, the statement called on training and retraining of teachers in the state, indicating the foundation’s willingness to assist in training of some teachers in the state.
“I am aware that teachers are pivotal and the fulcrum on which all educational activities revolve. They are indispensable in shaping the minds, attitude and skills of the coming generation. Conversely teachers also need the skills, knowledge and support that wil enable them meet the diverse learning needs of the next generation. In order to achieve the aim of education for all, more teachers need to be recruited and trained or replaced as they leave the profession.
“Accordingly, because of dearth of teachers in some schools in the Senatorial District, the Trust Fund has employed eight (8) temporary teachers for Government Secondary School, Creek Town and Government Technical College, Efut Ibonda. The Trust Fund has also provided fifteen (15) computers to Edgedley Memorial Girls’ Secondary School, Calabar.
“The foundation therefore, urge the state government to look into the issue of lack of teachers in educational institutions. Attention should be paid to rehabilitation of learning institutions and basic school facilities must be put in place. There must be monitoring and evaluation of the system in addition to improved allocations to the education sector.
Mr. Ita called on the beneficiaries to properly utilize the opportunity as there wil be termly assessment of their performances.
Among the benefiting schools includes, Hope Waddle Training Institution, Calabar, St. Patrick’s College, Calabar, West African People Institute, Calabar, Edgerly Girls Secondary School, Calabar, Government Technical College, Efut Ibonda, Odukpani LGA, Government Secondary School, Creek Town, Government Secondary School, Adiabo, Duke Town Secondary School, Calabar, amongst others
Teacher Ekpenyong Ita Foundation was established in 2014 by late Mrs Temitope Ekpenyong Ita to help indigent students, especially the girl child, get access to free and quality education.
