Activities for the 2020/2021 Academic Session resumed fully on Monday, October 12, 2020, for all the Secondary and Primary Schools Students/Pupils in both Public and Private schools in Ika land, after Seven months of forced vacation following the outbreak of the Coronavirus Pandemic in the Country.
However, according to government directives the Nursery School Pupils in the State will be resuming by January 2021, to enable her monitor the outcome of the measures put in place to checkmate the Pupils/Students from contacting the dangerous virus while in School.
During a visit round some schools within the two local government areas of Ika North East and Ika South, there was massive turnout of the teachers, students and Pupils in all the schools visited on the first day of resumption as they were all tired of staying at home after the Seven months unprepared vacation.
At Rock Of Ages Group Of Schools, located at 49, Memeh Street, Boji Boji Owa, it was observed that the teachers, Pupils and students recorded huge turnout; except the Nursery school pupils whose classrooms were empty in compliance of the state government directives that they should stay at home till January next year. It was also observed that teaching has commenced in all the classes.
In a chat with newsmen, Mrs. Ezenduka . P. C., the Proprietress of the school, stated that the level of compliance to resumption generally by both the teachers, pupils and the students of the school was 100% because they were all eager to go back to school having stayed at home for a very long period. Emphasizing that teaching and learning have full commenced in all the arms of the school, which is their usual practice. She stated that their Nursery school arm have not resumed in compliance to the state government directives, saying however, that the parents and the school authority are appealing to the relevant education authorities and stakeholders to reconsider allowing the Nursery school pupils to resume knowing that nobody will take care of them since their senior ones have resumed for classes.
The Proprietress welcomed her teachers back to school for the new session and urged them to put in their best in taking care of the children academically, knowing that they are their responsibilities. While for the pupils and students, she thanked God for their lives; she also welcomed them and enjoined them to put in their best in order to be successful in this academic session.
To the parents of their children, she stated that the school loves them and are praying for them to succeed in whatever they do in taking care of their students; assuring that as a school they will be fully committed in making the efforts of the parents on their children’s education to be successful.
At New Generation International School, located at 17, Nwadam Street, Boji Boji Owa, the Pupils were in their classrooms learning.
The Head teacher of the school, Mr. Okonkwo Sunday, appreciated their teachers for not abandoning the school because according to him reports emanating from other schools shows that some of their teachers have abandoned their duties to learn other trade and businesses as means of survival because of the unprepared long vacation. He stated that the level of compliance to resumption was 100% for the staff and 95% for the pupils; saying that they are doing their best to comply with the COVID-19 directives with the provision of running water, hand sanitizers and we ensure that all the pupils and students wear their face mask; disclosing the school authorities is also doing her best to ensure that the social distancing is maintained in all the classes. He further stated that the directives by the state government that the Nursery school pupils should not resume yet has been a great challenge on their part as a school, to the parents and even the pupils themselves; he passionately appealed to the state government to allow the Nursery school pupils to resume alongside the Primary and Secondary classes knowing that some of their parents are civil servants and businessmen and women who may not be chanced to take care of the children during school hours.
Mr. Okonkwo, advised the teachers to put in extra efforts and to leave no stone unturned because the children have missed a lot, hence the need for more efforts to achieve amazing results within the limited time. For the pupils/students he urged them to be hardworking and to always remember to wear their face mask and also comply with the COVID-19 directives and cooperate with their teachers; so that they can be able to their goals for this term together.
At Success Nursery And Primary School, located at 15, Asiwe Street, Off Deeper Life Road, Boji Boji Owa, the turnout of teachers was quite encouraging 95%. In a chat with Ika Mirror Newspaper reporter, the school Proprietress, Mrs. Faith Ikehi, stated that the level of resumption compliance on the first day was 60% for the pupils owing to the fact that most of their parents never anticipated that school will resume this year, coupled with the other reason of some them not having money to buy textbooks for their children and to pay their school fees.
She encouraged the teachers to be steadfast in their duties and put in more efforts and buckle their belt to make sure that their pupils are taught very well considering the long period they were at home. She further stated that the school complied to the state government directives that the Nursery school pupils should not resume until January 2021; she however, appealed to the state government to reconsider the directive because of the working class parents and businessmen and women who do not have persons to keep their children with after the senior ones must have gone to school.
She also revealed that in compliance to the government instructions on the COVID-19 protocols, the school has made provision for running water, hand sanitizers and the compulsory wearing of face mask by the teachers and pupils.
She advised the pupils to be more focused on their studies in order to be successful this term and session because they are really lagging behind after the forced COVID-19 vacation.
At Agbor Model Primary School, located along the Old Lagos/Asaba Road, before Owa – Ekei Junction, Agbor, the Head teacher of the school, Comrade (Mrs.) Owah . C. U., informed the reporter that all the teachers have fully resumed for the term, while the pupils population is also encouraging, knowing that they are tired of staying at home.
Continuing, she stated that in adherence to the COVID-19 rules and regulations, the school is very strict on the wearing of face mask by the teachers and pupils, they have also made provision for running water, hand sanitizers and usually check their temperatures; stressing also that the school is fully in compliance to government directives for Nursery school pupils to remain at home till January 2021; according to her, “the government actually know best on why they asked the kids in Nursery classes to stay at home before they are tender and venerable to attack; hence government wants to observe whether this things are moving away from us and by the time they are sure, I believe they will allow the children to resume fully.
Comrade (Mrs.) Owah, advised the teachers to always be punctual to school, urging that they should update their records of work and to constantly be checking the children as the government have given them thermometer, hand sanitizers, liquid soap e.t.c.
In the same vein, She advised the pupils to adhere to the COVID-19 protocols, to wash their hands regularly at intervals and to always make themselves neat.
She further revealed that teaching and learning have started immediately; she thanked the government of His Excellency Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, for all that he has been doing with the renovation of so many schools across the state.
Comrade (Mrs.) Owah. C. U., used the medium to appeal to the state government to come to their aids with chairs and desks for the pupils, and the provision of PVC ceiling boards that were blown off by the wind and several classrooms that were vandalized by hoodlums during the long vacation.
During a visit to one of the arms of Flourish Nursery Primary And College, located along Dr. Whyte Street, Agbor, the pupils and students were seen in their various classrooms receiving lectures.
According to Mrs. Salubi H. O., the Proprietress of the school; in her words said, “We have resumed fully, that is for the Primary classes and Secondary, the Nursery school pupils according to government directives have not resumed, they will resume by January 2021; we have been complying right from the onset of the period the school wrote the West African Examination Council (WAEC), the JSS 3 and the Primary 6 Cognitive Examinations”. Continuing, she stated that the school have complied fully to the COVID-19 instructions and all the protocols, saying “We have our thermometer, we have our wash hand buckets, sanitizers and all our pupils/students including our staff are compulsorily on face mask, and for us without face mask there is no entry into our schools”.
The school Proprietress stated that despite the past challenges which Private schools faced during the COVID-19 menace, the teachers have returned back and have renewed their strength to the pupils and students and to the parents; urging the teachers to put the past behind them and make up their minds to uphold the ethics of teaching, disclosing that people are saying that Education is a scam, emphasizing that “if you say that Education is expensive you should try ignorance”; maintaining that Education remains the best legacy you can give any child;
“So I will appeal to them to put on their strength and uphold the standard of education that is gradually falling”.
To the parents, she reminded them that the root of education might be bitter, but the fruit is very sweet; saying “actually there are challenges, the economy is bad however, despite all these they should know that in the near future they will reap the fruit of all their labours”.
Mrs. Salubi, advised her pupils and students that Education is their best legacy, hence they should make up their minds to study hard in this new session because they have already been promoted; urging that they should read hard so that all the ground that have been lost will be recovered.
Mrs. Ezenduka P.C.
Mr. Okonkwo Sunday
Mrs. Faith Ikehi
Comr. Mrs. Owah C.U
Mrs. Salubi H.O
Pupils of Rock of Ages Group of Schools, Owa, during class session
Pupils of New Generation Int. Schools, Owa, receiving lectures
