December 24, (THEWILL) – It was a day of glee as the Itam Secondary School Old Students’ Association (ISSOSA) in Itu, Akwa Ibom State held their Reunion with a conference and Awards ceremony on Saturday, December 23, 2023.
The event took place at the School Compound, Obong Itam in Itu Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, under the chairmanship of Akparawa Okon Imerh, The Past President 3 of Mbooho Mkparawa Ibibio and Fellow of Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (FNIPR) .
After a short exhalation by Pastor Archibong Ekpo, also an old boy, a keynote address with the theme “ Dwindling Educational Values – The Way Forward ” was given by Professor Anietie Efi, an old boy of the school. The erudite scholar decried the dwindling standard of education in the country using his Alma Mater as a microcosm as he blamed successive governments for the decay with low budgetary allocations while politicians send their kids abroad for education.
Prof. Efi listed outdated curriculum, corruption, quota system, poor teachers welfare, cultism and poor planning as some of the reasons for the dwindling standard of education in the country . On the way forward, Efi said in the complex technologies of the 21st century, scholars should unlearn, learn and relearn as some of the theories are now obsolete.
He posited that there should be effective communication and transfer of knowledge with a collaborative mindset, while calling on the government to increase budgetary allocations to the education sector in tandem with UN and International standards. He added that facilities should be provided and upgraded in schools, laboratories, libraries, offices, sports facilities among others.
According to the Don, teachers should be motivated with good salaries and incentives; proliferation of private tertiary institutions should be discouraged and training of teachers should be paramount. Prof Efi also suggested entrepreneurship training in an overhauled curriculum in school to curb unemployment.
The event featured a special recognition of the class of ‘81 for their philanthropic gestures as they refurbished the principal’s office and remodeled the JSS I block.
Eminent alumni were decorated by The President of ISSOSA, Mr. Obot Obot. They are, Engr (Dr.) Offiong D. Okpongkpong, the first Senior Prefect of the institution, tagged 001; Prof Nkang, Hon. Barr. Etetim Onuk, the Transition Chairman of Itu Local Government Council, Justice Aniekan Eton and Pst.(Mrs) Blessing Ekpo.
Awards were given to distinguished old students for their contribution to humanity. They include Engr.(Dr.) Offiong Okpongkpong, Akparawa Okon Imerh, Elder Samuel Ekanem, AIG Ebong E Ebong, Pharm.Udoekpo E Ekpo, Elder Okon Eniang, Chief Bassey Archibong Bassey, Gen. Effefiong Ekpenyong and Pst. (Mrs) Blessing Ekpo.
The climax of the event was the cutting of the anniversary cake as the event coincided with the 60th anniversary of the institution.
Itam Secondary School, Itam with a unique motto of ‘I die to live’ is one of the foremost secondary schools in the then South Eastern State and was established in 1963. The institution has produced eminent personalities in various areas of life.
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