The Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Education has initiated a comprehensive investigation into the conditions of boarding facilities in public secondary schools. This action follows a viral video exposing substandard meals allegedly served to students of Presbyterian Senior Science College, Ididep (PSSSI).

The video, shared by an alumnus, described the meals as “despicable” and the dining hall as resembling a concentration camp. It alleged that students were served “useless tea and bread for breakfast, unpalatable meals for lunch, and rice mixed with sand for dinner.” The alumnus called on the government to intervene, highlighting a significant decline in the school’s standards, which were once exemplary in the state.

Commissioner for Education Idongesit Etiebet, during an unscheduled visit to PSSSI, announced the immediate suspension of the school’s principal, Dr. Nse Sunday Umoh, pending the investigation’s outcome. She emphasized that the Umo Eno administration maintains a zero-tolerance policy on negligence regarding student welfare.

The review, to be jointly overseen by the Permanent Secretaries of the Ministry of Education and the State Secondary Education Board, will evaluate conditions across all 26 public boarding schools. Key areas of focus include hostels, dining facilities, sanitation, and meal quality. While the state’s free education policy excludes boarding fees, Etiebet reaffirmed the government’s commitment to upholding student dignity and wellbeing in all public schools.