"WE'RE STILL IN CONTROL" COMMISSIONER TELLS SCHOOL PRINCIPALS

The Cross River Commissioner For Education, Pros Offiong E. Offiong wants school principals to keep at their best in the discharge of their duties. And he has read the riot act to them.

 

"Do not just criticise others. You must be accountable to the votes given to you. Corruption is not just the magnitude but the misapplication of funds irrespective of the amount involved. You must first remove the log in your eyes before you see clearly to remove the log in your brother's eye", Offiong said adding that any principal who flout government's policies will be shown the way out.

 

Offiong made these remarks Friday in Calabar at the occasion of an interactive session with principals of public secondary schools across the state.

 

Issues discussed at the meeting include the use of ICT Laboratories, preparation for the 2015 WAEC Examination, customised CD for second term examinations, review of school calendar, approved school fees, student batch identification and the need to fill the code of conduct forms.

 

Offiong who also warned teachers against nonchalant attitudes, advised principals against the collection of monies from students for books that are not available and the collection of any levies that are not approved by government.

"In our last meeting, we agreed to buy into all of government's policies so as to boost the standard of education in our state" urging the principals that though this administration is left with just a few months to go, "the principals should not throw away the baby with bath water".

 

Based on this last remark, we sought to know from Prof Offiong whether he suspects that the out going Administration of Senator Liyel Imoke is not popular with the School Principals, the Commissioner said;

"I know that some of government's policies such as the use of ICT, the need to fill Code of Conduct Forms, the insistence on maintenance culture, etc are not very popular policies to some principals" adding, „the right thing should be done instead of doing anything to impress me".

 

In his reaction, Dr. Boniface Odey, State Chairman of Parents Teachers Association (PTA) who also combines as National Treasurer of the Body assured that the principals will maintain government policies to ensure the standard of education in Cross River continues to grow.