A\Ibom seeks inclusion of Environmental Studies in public schools

WORRIED by the level of apathy shown to issues of sanitation and environmental cleanliness, the Akwa Ibom State government has made a case for the entrenchment of relevant studies on personal hygiene to be included in public primary and secondary schools curricula.

The Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Linus Nkan, who stated this at the weekend while monitoring the monthly sanitation exercise in Uyo, the state capital at the weekend, stressed the need for the inclusion of personal hygiene and environmental sanitation studies in the primary and secondary schools system.

Besides, the Commissioner pleaded with churches to join in persuading their members on the need to embrace sanitation exercise to maintain the clean and green environment of Akwa Ibom.

“If the schools could inculcate the ideals of cleanliness and the need for sanitation exercise in the early stage of the child development, when he grows up, it will be part and parcel of his life”.

In the same vein he noted that the influence of the churches over their congregation would help tremendously if churches take messages of personal hygiene and sanitation exercises to them because of the people’s strong attachment to messages from their church leaders.

“In this part of the world, church leaders have tremendous influence on their followers and whatever their leaders say is not only accepted but adhered to” he added.

The commissioner further charged the media to embark on aggressive enlightenment campaign on the need for people to embrace the sanitation exercise and see it as part of their daily routine rather than punishment.

“A well articulated media enlightenment campaign will equally make the people troop out voluntarily to clean up their environment. The people should understand that the sanitation exercise is not for government but for their own well-being”

He urged council chairmen, business concerns, organizations and NGO’s to partner Government’s efforts to make the state clean, green and habitable.

However, Nkan disclosed that government may explore other options including enforcing compliance where there are recalcitrant people, if the option of enlightenment and persuasion failed.

The Commissioner who toured various markets during the exercise saw busy trading activities at Itam market, Itu-mbang market and at the slaughter market, itam, during the exercise. Several youths were equally seen playing football along the streets and field during the exercise.