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Education is a critical sector in a life of any admiration because the ministry drives the education policy of the government of the day.
It is in realisation of this that Governor Bassey Otu Associate Professor Stephen Odey to oversee the activities of the ministry.
The appointment of Odey is in line with the people’s yearning of appointing square peg in square hole because he is an all-round educationist and understands the terrain of teaching and education administration at all levels.
Since his appointment as Cross River State Commissioner for Education August 16, 2023, Odey has deployed his ingenuity and pragmatic approach in driving the ministry’s policies and programmes.
His resourcefulness is demonstrated in his dedication to duty and his quenching appetite in delivering on his mandate irrespective of the attending challenges.
Within the period under review, the Commissioner has been able to record some modest achievements including renovation of ministry of education headquarters complex, Annex building, exams department building and PRS Department building; uniformity in resumption and closing dates for all' public and private, primary and secondary schools; release of backlog of primary six (6) placement results, JSS3 BECE results and SSII Mock result 2023; and sponsored students participation at state and zonal level of national; democratic and legislative studies; secondary schools quiz competition 2023.
He has also reviewed obsolete guidelines for establishment of nursery, primary and secondary schools in the state and review of obsolete guidelines for PTA in the state 2023; facilitated registration of 16,301, SS3 2024 May/June WAEC candidates of Cross River state origin for registration as approved by His Excellency, the Governor of Cross River State, Sen. Prince Bassey Edet Out; embarked on closure of some illegal nursery, primary and secondary schools without approval to operate (ATO's) including Glorious Vision Academy, Ijiman – Ugep, Dynamic Premiere Academy, Ugep, and Wealth Academy Nursery/Primary School, Apiapum-Obubra.
To ensure uninterrupted supply of electricity, especially during working hours, a conducive working environment, improve on security situation, Odey installed Solar System and CCTV Cameras in the Office, furnished some offices in the ministry with tables, chairs, fans, computers, air conditioners and refurbishing of the ministry plant.
Under his watch, the ministry successful conduct of 2024 primary six placement exams, JSS BECE exams and SSII mock exams and preparation for the release of online result ongoing, inaugurated some boards under the ministry including Science and Technical Education Board (STEB), State Scholarship Board, College of Education, Akamkpa, Governing Council and State Library Board.
Above all, the ministry also successfully hosted the 2024 Joint Consultative Committee on Education (JCCE) Reference Committees Meeting with theme (Innovation, Digital Technology and Entrepreneurship: Tools for Educational and National Development in the 21st Century.