By Abiodun Bolujoko
The Kwara State Government has explained why it introduced ‘welcome test’ in public primary and secondary schools across the state.
Speaking in a telephone interview with our reporter at the weekend, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, Hajia Maryam Garuba said ‘welcome test’ was introduced in public schools in the state to improve turn out of pupils and students in the first week of resumption.
According to her, over the years, the state government discovered that there was always low turnout of pupils and students in schools in the first week of resumption.
“To arrest this trend, we decided to introduce the ‘welcome test’ to ensure that students who normally stay away from school in the first week have no option but to resume for the new term.
“For those who failed to resume last week, they must have learnt their lessons having missed the ‘welcome test.’
“You will realise that before the resumption of our schools, the teachers were on ground and from our end, we sent out officials to ensure compliance.
“This development and many more strategies are parts of efforts by the Kwara State Government to ensure qualitative education,” the Permanent Secretary said.
Speaking on loitering of students during school hours especially in Ilorin metropolis, Garba said the ministry will continue to move round to ensure students are in their classes at the appropriate time even as she urged both parents and school heads to ensure discipline among the students.
According to her, anyone caught roaming about during school hours will be dealt with and the principal also sanctioned appropriately.
Meanwhile, when our reporter went round some public schools in Ilorin metropolis last week, the head teachers and principals expressed their delight to have resumed to their duty posts.
At Agbabiaka LGEA Primary School, the head teacher, Hajia Bukola Jimoh Aliyu said, “We are set for the new term as all my teachers have written their lesson notes and lesson plan ahead for the week.”
She however stated that out of a population of 163, only 30 pupils turned out in school on the first day.
In her words, the Principal of Agbabiaka Junior Secondary School, Alhaja Mutiat Abdulwahab said, “We are set for our normal activities. I have acquired the new curriculum and also written to the ministry to supply text books to us for effective teaching and learning”.
Abdulwahab however described the turn out as average as only 150 students out of a population of 398 were in school.
Also, the head teacher, Danialu LGEA Primary School, Mrs Bola Sani said about half of the school population which is put at 363 resumed for the second term on the first day.
As at the time our reporter visited the school, the teachers were holding a brief meeting.
At Danialu Junior Secondary School, the Principal, Mr Akanbi Fatai lamented the low turnout of students saying only 110 out of 345 turned up on the first day of resumption.
Fatai however called on the state government to provide security officials for the school in order to ensure safety of equipment.
