After 40 years, old girls lament infrastructure rot at alma mater

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4 years ago

Governor Emmanuel

THE Old Girls Association (OGA) of St Theresa’s Secondary School, a missionary school at Edem Ekpat community in Etinan Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, has expressed dismay over the collapse of teaching and learning infrastructure in the school since it was taken over by government 40-years ago.

The association lamented that the decaying facilities had led to reduction of enrolment figures as parents had resorted to withdrawing their children and wards from the former mission school.

They, therefore, appealed to the Akwa Ibom State governor, Udom Emmanuel, to intervene to save the school from total collapse.

In a statement by its President, Mrs Christiana Egwunye in Uyo, the state capital, the association said it was no longer prestigious for parents to send their children to the school again because of the deteriorating standard of the school.

”We wish to appeal to our governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, to assist St Theresa’s Girls Secondary School and give it a facelift so that our girls can have a conducive learning environment. Our girl-children deserve to have not just a safe haven to nurture their talents but also their social skills as espoused in institutions such as St Theresa’s Secondary School which is specifically designed for the character formation of the girl-child,” the statement said.

It appealed to the governor’s wife, Mrs. Martha Udom Emmanuel, to support the rebuilding project of St Theresa Secondary School, Edem Ekpat.

The statement further lamented that the school which was among the top revered girls colleges in the state is now literally dead today.

”The current state of the school’s decay is not only heart-wrenching but also an indictment on our collective consciences. The reality of this infrastructure crisis informed the Alumni of St Theresa Secondary School to seek the state government’s urgent intervention.

This plea has become necessary in view of the school‘s strategic reckoning as the only all-girls secondary school in Etinan Local Government Area,” the statement added.

The statement further disclosed that the Alumni of St Theresa in recent months in its attempt to make the school habitable for the few students to take their Junior School Certificate Examinations undertook to clear the overgrown weeds and grass in the entire school premises.

It further said that the association also undertook the repair of some parts of a hostel to make it a bit habitable for the few boarders who were taking their examinations.

”The alumni through some of its members have conducted a tour of the school and would therefore plead with the state government to critically assess the state of the decaying infrastructure with a view to repairing, upgrading and supporting the institution to give opportunity to the girl-child within and outside Etinan council,” the association said.

It will be recalled that St Theresa’s Secondary School metamorphosed from a boarding convent primary school to its present status in 1963. It was founded and managed by the Holy Child Nuns of the Catholic Mission as a model school for moulding girls with strict discipline and formal education to give them a platform to compete and contribute meaningfully towards the socio-economic activities of the society.

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