A Civil Society Organisation, Development Research and Projects Centre(dRPC) in partnership with Open Society Foundations has given a grant of N385,000 to the Government Technical College, Abak, Akwa Ibom State.
The grant according to the CSO was aimed at supporting technical schools across Nigeria to prepare exiting students for NABTEB Examinations which commenced on Monday 21st September 2020.
The Coordinator of dRPC, Dr. Judith-Ann Walker, represented by the Chairman of Akwamfon Sustainable Community Association, Idem Udoekong during the award presentation held at the college premises on Friday said the Government technical school was the only school in the State that applied for the grant.
Dr. Walker said the grant was part of effort to complement and support the initiatives and vision of the State government in technical education adding that the funds would enable schools to procure Covid-19 PPE for students, convene extra lessons, buy textbooks and past question papers and other materials required for NABTEB Exams.
The Coordinator who expressed hope that the gesture would improve Students’ performance in the 2020 NABTEB examinations despite the challenges of Covid-19 noted that Akwamfon Community Association would be on ground to mentor and supervise the college to prepare its students for the exams.
According to the statement, “The Future Workers Program is an education sector response by Civil Society Organisations to support technical schools across Nigeria to prepare exiting students for NABTEB examinations scheduled to start on 21st September.
“The program, funded by Open Society Foundations, aims to provide direct school support to enable schools procure Covid-19 PPE for students, convene extra lessons, purchase text books and past question papers, and materials required for exams.
“The program was launched on 8th September 2020 through advertisements in the national dailies and on NTA 9pm News. Since that time, over 100 schools have applied from 20 States of the Federation. Only one school applied from Akwa Ibom, Government Technical College Abak and this school was selected. In total, 32 schools were selected from all zones from Nigeria.”
Earlier in his remarks the Principal General of the College, Elder Friday Udoka thanked the donor agency, Open Society Foundations for the support in preparing exiting students of Business, Technical and Vocational Subjects to write their NABTEB exams.
He however pledged to manage the grant judiciously for the benefit of the students writing the NABTEB exams and to facilitate efficient teaching and learning in the school saying that the first installment of the grant, as directed by the centre was being used for the funding of extra lessons for students, purchase of PPEs, textbooks and question papers.
“I thank the Donor and the dRPC for their doggedness and dedication to the Nigerian’s social sector development with particular focus on the education sector by means o providing cash award t schools. The choice of this citadel of learning as one of the thirty selected schools in Nigeria for this support program is putting round peg in a round hole.
“I want to assure you that the grants award given to this school shall be judiciously managed for the benefit of students writing the NABTEB examinations and to facilitate efficient teaching and learning in the schools.” He said.
