From Dispatch Room
Akwa Ibom State’s 100 percent free education policy continues to drive a broad expansion of educational infrastructure and human capital development programmes across the state, with major investments now anchored on model schools, teacher recruitment, and student support systems.
At the centre of the initiative is the establishment of **31 model primary schools**, each designed with modern learning facilities aimed at improving both access and quality of education across communities.
Each model primary school features **19 well-designed classroom blocks**, built to accommodate approximately 495 pupils, and structured to achieve a **1:25 teacher-to-pupil ratio**, strengthening classroom effectiveness and learner attention.
The schools are also equipped with **ICT laboratories**, designed to expose pupils to digital learning and prepare them for global competitiveness, alongside fully furnished libraries to support reading culture and academic research.
Early childhood education is integrated through dedicated **Early Child Care Development classrooms**, ensuring foundational learning begins in structured and supportive environments.
To support student welfare and safety, the facilities include well-equipped sick bays, administrative offices, staff quarters, assembly halls, football fields, playgrounds, and child-friendly furniture designed to create a holistic learning experience.
The model schools are also powered by **solar energy systems** to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply, complemented by reliable water systems and security posts with dedicated personnel to safeguard pupils and school property.
The administration has also expanded its secondary education footprint with **three model secondary schools**, one in each senatorial district, aimed at balancing access to quality education across the state.
In addition, the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) has implemented **268 intervention projects worth ₦5.9 billion**, covering classroom renovation, provision of desks and learning materials, borehole construction, sanitation facilities, and maintenance tools.
Beyond infrastructure, the state has deepened educational exposure through international learning programmes, including the sponsorship of 39 secondary students for educational tours to the United Kingdom under the “Merchants of Light” initiative.
Support for vulnerable groups has also been expanded, with **243 students with disabilities receiving educational grants**, alongside skills acquisition programmes benefiting over **95,000 residents** across the state.
At the tertiary level, Akwa Ibom State University continues to expand its academic footprint, recording accreditation of **60 new courses**, creation of **seven new faculties**, and improved national ranking performance.
The state has also approved recruitment of **1,000 new teachers**, while further strengthening specialised training in aviation, with pilots and engineers undergoing advanced training locally and abroad, including programmes at Airbus Flight Academy and Ethiopian Aviation University.
Scholarship and bursary support has also been significantly expanded, including increases in bursary payments, targeted support for students with disabilities, and merit-based awards for outstanding academic performance.
Officials say the combined reforms are aimed at building a strong education pipeline that supports innovation, technical skills development, and long-term economic transformation across Akwa Ibom State.
— Newspot Nigeria
