By Edet Okpo

Education has been considered by various schools of thought as the best investment and legacy that a child could receive from parents and government. It is obviously seen as a vehicle for national or societal development. In the light of this, one can easily agree that the prevailing chaotic situations in African milieu and the slow pace of technological development as well as financial/economic dependence there in, cannot be said to be unconnected with trails of legacy and decades of neglect left by our progenitors.
Be that as it may, kudos ought to be given at any point in time to people like late Awolowo, President Umaru Yara'Adua and our own digital Governor Godswill Akpabio who did not only think of it, but made impacted moves toward providing free and compulsory Basic Education to the citizens of this country.
In our dear state, government has gone beyond passing a mere bill for compulsory basic education, payment of teachers entitlement in time and as when due. A task force has been put in place to clear cases of school children hawking during school hours.
Another beauty of this pursuit is the renovation and erection of classroom blocks as well as provision of books, seats, science equipment, and state of the arts facilities to schools. To beautify its position, the state government in its doggedness is erecting a state a modern library complex, a knowledge reservoir where an Akwa Ibom child can key in for the much needed knowledge for societal all round development.
However, with all these efforts by the government, one can cannot conclusively say that the free education process is not experiencing some set-backs that must be attended to for its smooth running. Among these setbacks is the issue of unfaithful contractors and stakeholders of the various inter-ministerial projects while the governor is reputed for being the first to build and renovate classrooms with quality long span roofs.
Insufficient facilities in school still remains a major threat to the [progress of the free education programme.
Another impediment is the case of insecurity of the available facilities. A major setback is the cases of carelessness by parents. They have a negative notion that anything free should be taken for granted. This erroneous conclusion has crowded and eroded the minds of most parents as there form part of the societal credos. Some parents are no more interested in the academic activities of their wards, whether they are in need of 'Class basics” such as books and pens let alone text materials for reading. Pupils and students on their own part have exhibited nonchalant attitude towards learning. Most of them go to school late while others are “lost on transit” and play truant during school hours. Some do not attend classes and parents do not mind to assess their daily works in school, after all, no fees are paid.
Some teachers and heads of schools are not helping matters as some of them are rarely found in school, Dilapidated structures, dearth of teachers lack of routine supervision, lack of modern libraries and laboratory also threaten the free education policy.
To ensure the success of this programme, grassroots government, communities individuals, philanthropic organizations, education stakeholders, teachers and parents should channel more their attention and resources to complementing government efforts towards improving the quality and the accessibility of basic education and make Akwa Ibom State “educationally Ok”