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Partnership between the Ministry of Education, Akwa Ibom State and Etinan Children’s Education Foundation (ECEF).

Partnership between the Ministry of Education, Akwa Ibom State,

and Etinan Children’s Education Foundation (ECEF), Inc. to Convert into,

and Operate Government Primary School, Ikot Ebo, Etinan LG,

as a “Model” Government Primary School.

ECEF’s Mission Statement:

Formerly known as Dr. Ibokette’s Scholarship Foundation and launched in August 2017, the central goal of Etinan Children’s Scholarship Foundation, Inc. has been to provide various forms of assistance to a group of indigent and orphaned elementary school-age children in Etinan, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Through this assistance, the Foundation has been working to alleviate the tremendous and ongoing challenges that these children (popularly known as “scholars”) face in their daily struggles for survival.  

The Foundation was very successful in meeting these needs in the 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 academic years. By the spring of 2019, however, we became more aware and conscious of the multi-faceted nature of the scholar’s challenges. This awareness and reality check necessitated the re-evaluation, reprioritizing and broadening of the Foundation’s initial mission. Since July 2019, the Foundation has increasingly focused more specifically on four key forms of assistance, namely: the scholars’ medical (including dental) needs; nutrition; clothing; and school-based needs. 

Thanks to the support, generosity and fundraising skills of the Newton North High School community, the Akwa Ibom Community Association of Massachusetts (AICAM), colleagues, medical professionals, friends, and my family members, the Foundation very successfully made the necessary adjustments and has achieved many of its short-term goals. 

Objectives of Partnership: 

The Etinan Children’s Education Foundation, Inc (ECEF) entered into partnership with the Ministry of Education, AKS, on September 12, 2022. This partnership was formally launched on February 23, 2023. Its central objective is to facilitate the transformation of Government Primary School Ikot Ebo, Etinan LG, into a top-tier primary school. As a “model”, the quality of education that pupils receive in the school will match and perhaps surpass what many first-tier private schools in the state and country provide to their pupils.

Process & Modus Operandi of Partnership:

In this partnership, the school will retain its current status as a government/public institution in all its ramifications, abide by the Ministry of Education’s regulations, syllabus, curriculum, mandated state-wide and national assessments, etc. Similarly, the headteacher and other staff members will remain government employees per their current status. The Foundation’s main role in the partnership is to collaborate with the State’s relevant officials, agencies and/or bodies in guiding the school to implement effective pedagogical strategies so that the pupils will meet the State’s goals and standards and be able to function effectively in their post-primary school endeavors.

The key changes that the Foundation plans to implement will therefore be in the area of pedagogy or teaching methods. While there are a variety of pedagogies, it is of utmost importance that educators utilize the most culturally appropriate and effective method of delivering content and assessing students’ mastery of required skills. It is equally important that educators have access to essential tools to facilitate student learning. To these ends, the Foundation will provide both the pupils and their teachers the necessary pedagogical tools and other essential school supplies: 

• Tools for the pupils will include appropriate grade-level electronics, manipulatives, workbooks, exercise books, pens, pencils, crayons, etc. 
• Tools for teachers will include professional development programs, in-service training, and electronic-based and physical workbooks and manuals for teachers, etc.

For a smooth continuity, cohesion and effectiveness of the “model” programs, teachers who receive the said training will not be transferred out of the school except under extenuating circumstances. 

The partnership started at the beginning of the current (2022-2023) school year with primary one and two classes and will expand over a three-year period to incorporate all six grades by the beginning of the 2025-2026 school year.

Finances:

To finance the proposed transformation, the Foundation will supplement current State funds for the school with its own resources. The Foundation finances all its activities solely through fundraising and depends on volunteers to donate their time in carrying out its activities. It has no paid employees. I, as the Founder and Director of the Foundation, have volunteered both my time and family resources to do the work of the Foundation without any financial compensation. Teachers in the “model” program will be compensated for out-of-pocket expenses, participation in workshops and professional developments, however.

I am really excited about the prospects of this collaboration through which I hope to facilitate the social and emotional upliftment of our children, and thereby help in laying a solid socio-economic foundation for our collective future. The children are our future, and I am determined to nourish the bodies and minds of the future.

Sincerely Yours,

Isongesit Ibokette (Ph.D.)

Founder and Director, ECEF.

The “Etinan Children’s Education Foundation, Inc.” is registered and incorporated in Nigeria with the Nigerian Corporate Affairs Commission as a Non-Profit Organization – Registration #165570.

It is incorporated and registered in the United States as “Etinan Children’s Scholarship Foundation, Inc” – a Non-Profit Organization (Under section501 (c) (3) of the Internal Service Code), Federal ID #85-1537388.

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Proposal accepted by the AKS Commissioner of Education on 9/12/22 (See letter of approval).