In spite of the
federal government’s declaration that all primary and secondary schools
should resume academic activities on Monday, the Anambra State
government has extended their resumption to February 7.
The state’s
commissioner for education, Kay Onyechi, made this known in an
interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka, the state
capital, on Monday, stating that the decision was due to the extension
of the ongoing voter registration to February 5 by the electoral agency.
According to her,
the state government also declared Febraury 1 a work-free day for civil
servants in the state to participate in the exercise.
“We decided that
schools in the state should resume on February 7 after the Independent
National Electoral Commission (INEC) wrote to us about the extension
and we will maintain the decision,” the commissioner said.
However, there was
confusion in many schools as some of them complied with the federal
government’s declaration while some others did not open at all. When a
NAN correspondent visited Kenneth Dike Memorial Secondary School, Awka,
the vice principal in charge of administration, Tom Ebunilo, said the
school had resumed but witnessed low turnout of students.
“We have a
tradition of teaching on the first day of resumption. Those that came
received lectures. They felt excited that schools had resumed again. It
was a welcome development for them.
“For the teachers, it was nothing new as they had been coming to teach the SS3 and JS3 students,” Mr. Ebunilo said.
On plans to
re-structure the academic calendar, Mr. Ebunilo disclosed that the Post
Primary School Service Commission in the state had extended teaching
days and shortened holiday periods for the students. “Some teachers
have also planned to give extra-mural classes,” the vice principal
added.
A pupil of Hez-Dike
Arts and Science Academy, Chibuzor Uketui, told NAN that he was the
only one who resumed in his class for the day.
The school’s vice
principal, Elijah Anukwu, said the turnout was not reasonable.
According to him, it could be due to the mix-up in the announcements on
the resumption by the state and federal governments.
The story was,
however, different at Igwebuike Grammar School, Awka, as the vice
principal, Ada Nnoka, disclosed that 70 per cent of the students
resumed for academic activities.
“The students are
eager to continue with school activities and they received full
lectures today. We also threatened to punish students who failed to
resume today. We are known for hard work and dedication,” she added.
NAN
