College engages NSCDC to guard against rape

NSCDC

The management of the Federal Science and Technical College, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, has engaged the services of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to strengthen the security of the girls only FSTC in the country. This, the management said, became necessary as part-time security workers engaged could no longer prevent hooligans and rapists from gaining entry into the school premises.

The college Principal, Mrs. Theresa Nweke, who stated this in Uyo during the inauguration of a 40-unit ultra modern toilet facility donated by the Parent-Teacher Association, said the decision to engage the civil defence corps became necessary to protect the lives of pupils, members of staff and property.

She said, “The college, having observed the various lapses of our security men, mostly part-time members of staff, had to engage the services of civil defence corps to strengthen the security system of the college.

“I wish to inform you that since their engagement by the college this month, there have been virtually no complaints from both pupils and staff.”

The PTA chairman, Mr. Effiong Etuk, said the association had been worried over poor sanitary situation in the school due to heaps of refuse scattered around the school.

He said that prior to the construction of the ultra-modern toilet facility, pupils rarely entered the latrines as excreta and heaps of refuse littered everywhere, causing unbearable stench whenever a visitor approached the college.

Etuk explained that for fear of possible outbreak of disease, the association had to prioritise its needs by clearing the heaps of refuse and excreta with N25,000 before the construction of the facility.

“We had to evacuate refuse because of the health of our children. This helped to reduce offensive odour and created psychological effect on the pupils.

“The establishment of modern toilet facilities became extraordinarily necessary because of the suffering and excruciating experiences the students faced in defecating.

“Our children under this situation were made to queue up or defecate all around the vicinity,” he said.

Etuk appealed to the Federal Government, well-meaning Nigerians and representatives of Uyo Senatorial District in the National Assembly to assist the college with facilities.

He  listed other challenges facing the college to include poor academic standard, especially poor external examination results of past years, poor road network, inadequate water supply, inadequate toilets, poor sanitary condition particularly in and around toilet areas, non- connection to the national grid, lack of perimeter fencing and insecurity; lack of dormitory, staff quarters and inadequate classrooms.

The secretary of the association, Dr. Linus Udofia, called on the Federal Government to provide workshops, equipment and libraries to the school.