Akwa Ibom State Governor Mr Udom Emmanuel has called for the re-introduction of a vernacular in the curriculum of all government Secondary Schools in the state.
Governor Emmanuel made the call at Tower of Ivory Schools, Ediene Abak, Abak Local Government Area where he attended the 6th Inter – House Sports Competition of the Institution.
He said that the use of a vernacular is fast becoming extinct while other languages gain prominence because of their incorporation in school syllabus and directed the Ministry of Education to ensure that a vernacular is taught in all public schools beginning from the next school session.
According to him “the teaching of indigenous language would help the younger generation appreciate their mother tongue and culture as against foreign languages” and therefore called on parents to encourage their children to communicate in their native dialect.
Governor Emmanuel spoke of the excellent infrastructure provided in the school saying “the facilities would facilitate the impactation of knowledge as well as enhance sports development and expressed the hope that the school will attract trophies at National and International competitions due to early exposure of the students to modern facilities.
The Governor commended the School Proprietor, Parents and Board Of Governors of the Institution for the sound academic foundation laid in the school and announced scholarship for another batch of thirty one indigent students in the school.
He donated sets of Computer to the school, twenty bags of rice and a cow to each of the houses that participated in the sports competition.
The Chairman Board Of Governors and Proprietor Tower of Ivory Schools, DIG Udom Ekpoudom (Rtd) expressed appreciation to the Governor for witnessing the School’s Sports Competition and the support given to the Institution.
He said the school has recorded one hundred percent pass in National Examination Council (Neco) and in West African School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in the year 2015 and 2016 and has remained the 2016 state Champion in Senior Mathematics Olympiads.
Mr Ekpoudom added that the school has distinguished itself in the area of Sports and attributed the success to the excellent facilities available in the Institution saying “today we have added another feather to our cap with a mini stadium to our stock of sport facilities.This will help transcend our attained position in the world of sports”
The Chairman on the occasion Major General Godwin Umoh (rtd) commended the school management for laying a solid foundation for academic excellence which he said has enable the school compete with other institutions in the country.
Major Umoh lauded the provision of sports facilities and the high academic standard maintained in the school stressing that the school will produce future leaders for the country.
The occasion which featured march past, field and track events by the competing houses climaxed in the commissioning of a Mini – Stadium by Governor Udom Emmanuel.