The once-prestigious Etinan Institute in Etinan Local Government Area has fallen into a state of severe structural and administrative decay, sparking urgent calls for intervention from the Akwa Ibom State Government.
The historic institution, which currently houses over 2,100 students, is reportedly operating under conditions that compromise both the safety and dignity of the learners. According to human rights lawyer Barrister Inibehe Effiong, the school is suffering from a complete disregard for student welfare, characterized by a lack of basic utilities and a dangerously depleted workforce.
Dilapidated Infrastructure and Security Risks
The school’s administrative building has been described as dangerously dilapidated, with several sections at risk of an imminent collapse. This has forced partial evacuations to prevent potential casualties. Furthermore, the security of the students is under threat due to a porous perimeter fence, leaving both male and female boarders vulnerable to external dangers.
“The school has fallen into severe neglect, leaving over 2,100 students to struggle under conditions no child should face,” Effiong stated. He noted that the sanitation is appalling, with students still forced to use outdated pit toilets, a situation he described as a failure of oversight and public health standards.
Staffing Shortages and Utility Failure
The academic standards of the institution are equally under pressure. Currently, only 27 academic staff are available to manage the massive student population. Daily life for the boarders has become a struggle for survival, as the school frequently operates with no stable electricity and unreliable water supply. Reports indicate that the institution recently went for weeks without any access to water.
The decline in living conditions has led to a sharp drop in the boarding population, plummeting from over 500 students to fewer than 100. This decline is attributed to substandard feeding and a general lack of basic amenities.
Demands for Accountability
Despite the presence of several key political figures from the locality in high-ranking positions of authority including Paul Ekpo, Uduak Ekpo Ufot, Uku Umo, and Uko Essien Udom there has been no recorded meaningful intervention to arrest the decay.
Observers have raised concerns that if Etinan Institute, regarded as one of the best public schools in the LGA, is in this condition, the state of other surrounding schools may be even more dire. There is now a growing demand for the Akwa Ibom State Government and community stakeholders to provide urgent funding for restoration, adequate teaching staff, and a safe, dignified environment for the next generation of leaders.
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