A group of Calabar indigenes based in United Kingdom has decried the poor standard of education in Nigeria as they make intervention in some Calabar schools to ameliorate the situation.
 
The principal of Government Secondary School, Anantigha, Valery Ekpenyong Henshaw, confirmed that about 150 secondary school students dropped out of her school and could not write their final examination due to their inability to pay N3, 000 school fees and N13, 000 West Africa Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) fee.

Worried by the general poor standard of education in the country and increase in the number of out-of-school children, a UK-based non-governmental organisation, Calabar Forum, donated books, bags and other educational materials worth millions of naira to students of Anantigha Primary School and Government Secondary School, Anantigha.

President of the group, Mkpang Cocobassey, said the situation of children in schools is too poor hence the need to support government in bringing sustainable development to the sector.

He said: “The standard of education in Nigeria is appalling. I know government is trying its best but I believe if we join hands, we can make the sector more effective.

“Poverty is a big problem. Paying N2, 000 school fees or N13, 000 examination fees is a challenge, but I believe that irrespective of all these challenges, if we come together to encourage these students, they will excel.