Health Commissioner Raises The Alarm Over 50-Yr-Old Decaying Etung Comprehensive Sec. Sch
By Ebi COLLINS
The Cross River State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk, has raised the alarm over the dire state of Etung Comprehensive Secondary School, Bendeghe-Ekiem.
The school, which was once a beacon of educational excellence in the Etung Local Government Area, is now in disrepair due to decades of neglect.
Established in 1975, the school was celebrated for its academic and extracurricular achievements, drawing students from across the region.
However, during a recent inspection, Ayuk lamented its decline, calling it a “monument of aborted glory.” The visit revealed a grim picture of crumbling infrastructure, an acute shortage of teachers, and dysfunctional learning facilities.
Expressing dismay, Ayuk criticised the management and staff for failing to escalate the deteriorating situation to relevant stakeholders earlier.
He emphasised that true educators, driven by a passion for their profession, should have taken proactive steps to safeguard the institution’s legacy.
To address the crisis, the Commissioner pledged to rally state government support to tackle the school’s critical needs.
He called on the community, including political leaders, alumni associations, local businesses, and organisations such as the Cocoa Association of Nigeria, Bendeghe-Ekiem, to collaborate in reviving the school.
In a bold first step, Dr. Ayuk committed to renovating the science block and equipping its laboratories with modern tools to provide students with quality science education.
He also outlined plans to engage the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and Colleges of Education to deploy corps members and student teachers, easing the severe staffing shortfall.
Additionally, he vowed to spearhead a multi-stakeholder initiative to restore the school’s status as a center of learning excellence.
The school’s Principal, Mr. Okena Egbe, expressed heartfelt gratitude for the Commissioner’s visit, noting that Dr. Ayuk’s intervention—especially as a native of the community—offers a ray of hope.
“We are overwhelmed by challenges,” Mr. Egbe said, detailing the school’s plight. These include an insufficient workforce of only seven teachers, collapsing infrastructure, a lack of non-teaching staff, and non-functional laboratories and libraries.
The Principal pledged to act on Dr. Ayuk’s recommendations and begin mobilizing resources to improve conditions for both staff and students.
The Commissioner’s visit has rekindled optimism for a brighter future at Etung Comprehensive Secondary School.
As a historic symbol of educational excellence in the region, the school now looks to its community and stakeholders to join forces in reviving its lost glory.
Dr. Ayuk was accompanied on the visit by members of his technical team and the Secretary of Bendeghe-Ekiem Town Council, Mr. Ojong Abang Ndifon, further underscoring the commitment to restoring this cherished institution.
