Low turnout as schools resume

As schools resume nationwide for
academic activities after the
Christmas and New Year break on
Monday, schools across the country
recorded low turnout of pupils.
From Abuja to Lagos, Osogbo to
Ilorin and Ibadan to Abeokuta, the
number of pupils that resumed for
the second term of the 2014/2015
academic session was few.
In Kwara State, there was poor
turnout of pupils in primary and
secondary schools on Monday.
Investigations revealed that some
of the teachers were also absent,
while only few pupils attended
classes when our correspondent
visited some schools in Ilorin, the
Kwara State capital.
But it was learnt that the most
affected schools were those in the
rural areas of the state.
A parent, Mr. Ahmed Bello, informed
our correspondent that teachers in
many schools in the rural areas did
not show up for work.
He, however, added that the
situation would improve within the
week.
Our correspondent also learnt that
many of the pupils and teachers
were still in the holiday mood.
The Chairman, Nigerian Union of
Teachers, Kwara State, Alhaji Musa
Abubakar, confirmed the low
turnout in a telephone interview
with our correspondents.
He said, “Schools resume in Kwara
State today but there was poor
turnout of pupils.”
Asked why this was so, Abubakar
said that the short holiday
occasioned by the Ebola shut down
of schools last year could be
responsible.
Also, a teacher at a public primary
school in Ibafo, Ogun State, who
simply identified himself as Mr.
Toriola, added that a lot of pupils
were not used to resuming for
schools in the first week of the
year.
“If you remember that the school
system was shut down for some
weeks last year because of Ebola,
due to this, we had to rush the
children in order to make up for the
lost time. This was also the reason
why we have a short holiday and
children that used to enjoy the first
two weeks of the year as holiday
could be finding coming to school
on January 5 difficult. I’m sure that
this will change next week,” he
said.
Also, the News Agency of Nigeria
reported that attendance in schools
on Monday by pupils was poor.
A NAN correspondent who visited
some of the schools reported that
most schools were deserted as
skeletal academic activities were
going on.
At the Government Secondary
School, Area 10, Garki, few pupils
were spotted in classrooms having
lessons.
The school’s Vice-Principal
(Administration), Mr. Salawu Ishola,
said that no fewer than half of the
pupils population reported to
school for resumption, while
majority of the teachers reported.
“Sincerely speaking, it was an
average attendance, just about half
the pupils’ number; for the
teachers, at least 80 per cent of
them resumed.
“Probably, some of the pupils are
running away from cleaning; they
think that they will be used for
cleaning and clearing of the bush if
they come to school.
“At least, they will clean their
classrooms and environment
before they settle down for
lessons; the new order is that,
teaching must take place on the
day of resumption,’’ he said.
According to him, normal teaching
has started as there is a new
directive from the Universal
Education Board that normal
academic activities must
commence immediately schools
resume.
At the Government Secondary
School, Tudun Wada, Zone 4, few
pupils were seen milling around,
while the principal and teachers
were in a meeting.
A handful of pupils were also seen
playing as a security man resisted
attempts made by the NAN
correspondent to talk to the pupils.
The Model Secondary School,
Maitama, looked deserted, while
few pupils were seen strolling in.
The Vice-Principal (Administration),
who declined to disclose her name,
said she did not have the right to
comment on the pupils’ turnout.
She said it was the duty of the
chairman of the FCT Secondary
Education Board to comment on the
issue.
“Issues concerning school
resumption and others lie with the
FCT Secondary Education Board.
“She has sent out her inspectors
and they were here this morning;
they will go round the schools and
report back their findings to her,’’
she said.