Primary and post-primary schools in Abia resumed on Monday for the third term of the 2021/2022 academic session, with low turnout of students in some schools monitored.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the State Ministry of Education had directed all private and public schools to resume on Monday, after one month Easter vacation.
NAN correspondent who monitored the resumption in Umuahia, the state capital, reports that there was low turnout of pupils and students in the schools visited, even though their teachers were seen at their duty posts.
Some students were tidying up the classrooms and premises, while others were seen playing around at Ibeku Junior and High Schools, Umuahia.
The Principal of Ibeku Junior School, Mrs Erima Dike, decried the low turnout but appealed to parents and guardians to bring their wards to school to cover the timetable.
At Amuzukwu Girls Secondary Schools, few students were seen in groups in their classrooms and within the schools’ premises exchanging pleasantries.
The school Principal, Dr Ngozi Alighili said they had resumed and were fully prepared for the third term’s work.
“We have low turnout of students today, but as you can see, our teachers are present, ready to work. I urge the students to come back,” she said.
At Amuzukwu Community Primary School 1, the Headmistress, Mrs Charity Offor, said that the school had resumed but the turnout of pupils was poor.
“We have only four pupils today, our teachers are present; we hope that the attendance will improve in the coming days.“
I paid some people to cut the grass on Thursday, because our pupils are small. Let the children come back to school because we are ready for them,” she said.
The Principal of St. Paul’s International Academy, Umuahia, Mr Uchenna Ojiji, expressed happiness, saying they had fully resumed for the third term.
“By the grace of God, all the teachers have reported. We equally welcome a handful of our pupils and students.“
We tighten up our security, limit visitations on Mondays because of the weekly sit-at-home threat. We encourage parents to always release their children to us on Mondays without fear,” Ojiji said.
NAN reports that the sit-at-home order by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), as observed every Monday in the South-East, may have contributed to the low turnout in schools.
A parent, Mrs Ijeoma Kalu said she refused to release her children to resume today for fear of insecurity.
“I can’t allow my children to go to school on Mondays because of sit-at-home order. My children will resume tomorrow, being Tuesday,” she said. (NAN)
