Reactions are trailing the announcement by the Abia state government on Resumption of schools slated for Monday 28th of September 2020.
This is even as the state government has ordered private school owners to charge only 30% of third term fees which will run for three weeks.
While some parents and guardians who spoke to National Ambassador said they were excited on the news of the resumption, others said they are not prepared as the announcement came as a surprise.
They said it will be tasking on the parents to commence payment of school fees for the third term adding that they have suffered economic hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic and called on the state government to wave school resumption till January 2021.
Speaking in an interview with National Ambassador,a parent, Mrs Uwakwe Judith, argued that the state government should have waved the three weeks 3rd term academic session to enable parents prepare adequately for the financial task ahead.
Uwakwe,lamented that the decision to reopen schools will take a toll on the parents who will be made to pay schools fees and other additional requirements.
In her words; “Although my children are tired of staying at home, they will not resume for the 3rd term academic session.
“The news of resumption came so sudden and we need to look for money to pay for schools fees, arrange for the children’s requirements and other daunting challenges ahead”.
Also speaking, a teacher, Mrs Chijioke Ezekiel expressed doubt on the resumption as announced by the state government saying that though excited about the development, they are not ready for full resumption.
According to her, teachers had been stressed previously with the conduct of examinations pointing out that schools will need to prepare, arrange and clear the school compounds which had been overgrown by weed.
However,in a swift reaction,the state Commissioner for Education, Dr. Kanelechi Nwangwa said there is no going back on the September 28th resumption date maintaining that the decision to run the end of 3rd term 2019/2020 academic session remains feasible.
The Commissioner reiterated the readiness of the Abia state government to commence full reopening of schools to finish up the abridged third term from 28th September to October 16,adding that the state government has mandated private school owners to charge only 30% of third term fees as well as maintain all Covid-19 protocols.
He added that the state government has set up a monitoring mechanism for full compliance by private school owners and advised parents to ensure that they get receipts for every payment they make so as to make it easier for government to catch defaulters.
“If we wave third term completely and ask the children to go to a new class, we have not done the right thing. We want to make sure we are using a standard. The teachers will use what the children have studied in 1st term,2nd term and what they studied from the radio and television programme that is going on and we will combine them to give them an exam.
“Ist term is to run from October 26th through December. We will give a little break and start again from 4th January then end the 1st term on January 21st, that will give us a full term. By that time, the children will now pay their school fees and start to run a normal term.
“From February 1st, we will start the 2nd term then run it till April 22nd, give a little break from May 10th. We will run the third term and end by August 5th, by that way, we will have our full school year restored”.
The Commissioner however noted that those in the Nursery and Creche are not allowed to reopen.
According to him, “the coast is not clear to have that level come back to school.
“The nursery schools are at home and will continue to be at home until we are 100% sure of their safety”, he concluded.
