By Mike Adeyemi
After three weeks of break, both public and private schools in Kwara State resumed on Monday, however findings of this medium revealed that there was low turnout of pupils and students across Ilorin, the state capital.
Our reporter who went round schools in Ilorin on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday noticed that some of the schools were yet to begin teaching and learning in the classrooms.
To ensure an improvement in the turnout of students in subsequent coming weeks, the Kwara State Government will today meet the leadership of the state chapter of All Nigeria Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS).
Making the disclosure to this medium yesterday is the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, Hajia Maryam Garba, who also alluded to the low turnout.
Speaking in a telephone chat with our reporter, the Permanent Secretary said, “our monitoring department were out yesterday to assess the compliance of staff and students to resumption and on this note, we will be meeting with the ANCOPS to discuss some observations and the need for schools to commence full academic programme,” she stated.
Speaking with some schools’ heads and principals during the monitoring exercise by our reporter, they expressed their displeasure over the low attendance which many of them blamed on attitude of the parents.
At Ilorin Grammar School (IGS), the Principal, Alhaji Abubakar Abdullahi described students turnout on Tuesday as slightly below average.
“Despite the unimpressive turnout, we have commenced teaching and learning today. Most parents believed the first week of resumption is for labour work hence they decided to have their wards stay back at home,” Abdullahi divulged.
At Oke-Aluko Secondary School, the Principal, Alhaji Ibrahim Abdulkadri said virtually all the students and staff were present adding that the first Continuous Assessment Test was conducted to send signals to the few ones that may have stayed back at home.
At Iman Secondary School, along Yidi Road, the Principal, Alhaji Kehinde Yahaya lamented the low turnout saying only 20 per cent of the population were present.
“Those that are yet to resume will be severely dealt with and all labour services in the school would be done by them while those present now will enjoy full class learning”, he said.
At Sheik Abdulkadri College, yesterday, the Principal, Hajia Mariam Kareem rated the turnout of students at 35 per cent despite commencement of academic activities on Tuesday.
Speaking further, she said, “…only four staff who are running school programmes that are yet to resume out of 34 teachers in the school.”
She however added that academic activities have commenced even as the principal stated that officials of the Ministry of Education from the monitoring department visited the school on Tuesday.
At United Secondary School, Taiwo Road, there were fewer number of students compared to the teachers present.
In his words, the Principal of the school, Hajia Omolara Kamaldeen blamed the situation on the parents, adding that classes have commenced in earnest. She however applauded the state government for prompt payment of the teachers’ arrears in the state.
