Schools across Aba and other parts of Abia State have resumed for the 2026/2027 academic session, with teachers and students returning to classrooms as academic activities commenced in earnest.
A monitoring exercise in some schools in Aba showed strong compliance with the resumption schedule, although infrastructure, manpower and teaching equipment remained areas of concern.
At Umuola Community Primary School, all 18 teachers had reported for duty, while about 65 pupils had resumed as of the time of the visit.
Basic Six pupils were already receiving lessons, while teachers were fully engaged in academic activities.
The Headmistress, Mrs. Nwogwugwu Chinyere, represented by her assistant, Mrs. Unamka Chinyere C., expressed satisfaction with the level of resumption but identified inadequate classrooms, pupils’ desks, teachers’ tables and chairs, as well as instructional materials, as challenges affecting effective teaching and learning.
Mrs. Ngozi Wachuku Director, SEMB Aba zone.
She, however, commended the commitment of the teachers to the new academic session.
At the Girls’ Senior Technical College, Aba, the Principal, Mrs. Jonathan Uloma Nnenna, also confirmed the full resumption of teachers and students.
She said students were involved in cleaning the school environment and registration activities, particularly newly admitted students, while academic work had commenced.
Senior Secondary School Three students were seen revising Economics during the monitoring visit.
Mrs. Nnenna identified the rising student population as a challenge, particularly with available classroom space, and appealed for additional technical teachers in areas including Technical Drawing, Woodwork, Home Management, and Food and Nutrition.
She also called for the provision of appropriate equipment to enhance the teaching of technical and vocational subjects.
The principal commended Governor Alex Chioma Otti, OFR, for his administration’s attention to education and pledged her continued commitment to effective service delivery.
Meanwhile, the Director-in-Charge of the Secondary Education Management Board (SEMB), Aba Zone, Mrs. Ngozi Wachuku, has urged teachers and students to maintain regular attendance throughout the academic session.
Wachuku, who was monitoring schools within her jurisdiction, said truancy would not be tolerated among teachers or students.
She disclosed that she had visited about five schools in Aba North and Obingwa Local Government Areas, with plans to inspect more schools.
According to her, the exercise focused on teachers’ attendance, lesson notes and students’ participation in academic activities.
She said lesson notes for the day’s classes had been sighted and marked, while teachers and students were present in the schools visited.
Wachuku commended the Commissioner for Education, Elder Goodluck Chinedu Ubochi, and Governor Otti for what she described as positive developments in the state’s education sector.
The resumption exercise showed strong enthusiasm among teachers and students, while also highlighting the need for improved infrastructure, teaching equipment and additional manpower in some schools.
