The Akwa Ibom State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) has clarified that a rigorous needs assessment exercise is conducted across all local government areas of the state before any school renovation or reconstruction project is awarded.
The board emphasized that this strategic approach ensures resources are directed precisely where they are needed most, preventing arbitrary project allocations.
The Chairman of the board, Rt. Hon. Anietie Etuk, made this clarification while speaking on the XL Citizen Centre radio program.
His remarks came on the heels of Governor Umo Eno’s recent approval of ₦5.9 billion as the 2025/2026 counterpart funding meant for the provision of critical basic amenities in public schools across the state.
Dr. Etuk explained that the board strictly avoids embarking on the renovation or reconstruction of classroom blocks without first determining the level of dilapidation and urgency in specific communities.
This data-driven intervention strategy is designed to maximize the impact of the newly approved counterpart funds and ensure equitable development in the state’s basic education sector.
In tandem with infrastructural upgrades, Governor Eno has also approved the recruitment of 1,000 new teachers to address acute staffing shortages in several local government areas.
According to the SUBEB Chairman, this massive recruitment drive is deliberately aimed at balancing teacher distribution and ultimately improving learning outcomes for pupils across Akwa Ibom State.
Despite these positive strides, Dr. Etuk lamented the ongoing diversion of educational materials supplied to some schools, describing the illicit practice as a major challenge undermining effective service delivery.
He further noted that while some schools are currently equipped with modern computer laboratories, they unfortunately lack qualified instructors to operate them, a gap the board is actively working to bridge to ensure pupils acquire essential digital skills.
