By Kelvin Obambon
The Special Adviser to Cross River Governor on Local Content, Caleb Awatt, has outlined a comprehensive initiative to tackle the issue of out-of-school children in the State.
Speaking during a courtesy visit to Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Cross River State Council, Comrade Archibong Bassey, in Calabar, on Thursday, Awatt highlighted government’s dedication to education under the “People First” mandate.
He revealed the establishment of the Cross River Education Marshals and the Citizens’ Academy, a school aimed at providing free quality primary education to socially deprived children in the state.
“No child of school age should be denied primary education,” he stated, stressing that admission and tuition at Citizens’ Academy are free, with full scholarships available.
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“One of the reasons we are here is because His Excellency has given his mandate, which is already in the public space, People First,” Awatt noted. “That was what necessitated me to dedicate my appointment also to the education of out-of-school children in the state.”
He expressed concern that many children seen on the streets during school hours are engaged in “vandalizing government properties” and that their growing numbers pose a security challenge, becoming a “terror in a tourism state like Cross River” and presenting a “negative image of our state.”
Awatt provided an update on the academy which is located at Ikot Ishie, stating that “About 15 of our children, some months ago, wrote the common entrance. And today they are in secondary school. These are children that some months ago were out of school. The school currently has over 200 students admitted.”
The SA recalled that Governor Otu celebrated his recent birthday with children of the Citizens’ Academy, which he described as “a moment that they won’t forget in a hurry.”
He also said that the Deputy Governor, Peter Odey, was “so moved” after observing the engagement, offering immediate support. “He said that he would love to be part of what is happening in the Citizens’ Academy, and immediately offered to also assist the school so that the vision can be sustained.”
The governor’s aide further revealed that the administration is launching Education Marshals, whose mandate is to ensure that “no child of school age is found on the street during school hours.” He highlighted the financial investment the government is making in education, saying, “Government is spending so much money in the renovation of schools. Government don’t want such huge amount of money to be counterproductive.”
In a move to enforce school attendance, Awatt said the Marshals will collaborate with the judiciary. “We met the state chief judge. She also threw her weight to it, that we’re going to partner with the local content office and the education marshals to set up mobile courts. Any child apprehended in a wrong place at the wrong time will face the mobile court.”
He confirmed that modalities for the long-term sustainability of the Citizens’ Academy are in place, with partners from the United States of America and other external groups indicating interest.
However, he acknowledged the challenges, citing a need for assistance, particularly a school bus for the children. “We definitely need assistance, both financially and otherwise. We need a bus, we need the school materials, we need more textbooks, because this new term, a lot of parents came with their children for admission and we admitted them.”
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