Some public and private schools on Monday experienced low turn out of students and pupils on the first day of resumption for the second term academic calendar in Port Harcourt.
Theportcitynews gathered that only a few students were seen in the schools visited in Port Harcourt at about 8: am.
Some of the Schools monitored were Apara Community Secondary School, Obio Comprehensive College, Redeemers Secondary School and University Demonstration Secondary School.
School administrators who spoke to TPCN said the turnout was low although they expect students in their large numbers by Friday as teaching and learning activities would commence in earnest.
They, however, said teachers were on the ground and were prepared to teach but for the low turnout of students on the first day of resumption.
“On Friday we came to school to prepare the ground for resumption; our teachers are ready.
” They have written their scheme of work and their diaries and lesson notes are already signed by the authority.
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“The students are already trooping into school, we expect the students to come in larger numbers as teaching and learning are taking off in earnest,” an administrator said.
Rivers State Ministry of Education had last week insisted that unapproved schools remain banned and should not operate.
It will be recalled that the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom, had set up a Committee for accreditation and approval of Private schools; a move designed to improve quality education in the state.
The Committee, led by Professor Ozo Mekuri Ndimele, in its report, denied accreditation/approval to 437 schools which did not meet set requirements for the operations of private schools.
Subsequently, the state government directed that all schools DENIED approval should discontinue operations forthwith.
The state Commissioner for Education, Professor Kaniye Ebeku, speaking on the resumption of schools said on Friday that the directive on the ban of unapproved schools still subsists.
Professor Ebeku advised parents and guardians of pupils and students not to patronize unapproved schools, adding that such schools are illegal and should not resume.
He warned that anyone caught operating unapproved schools in the state will face appropriate sanctions of the law.
The Education Commissioner further said that the Rivers State government has made adequate provisions for the maintenance and functioning of public schools in the state, and cautioned Heads of public primary and secondary schools in the state not to collect any fee from pupils and students, stating that any Principal or Headteacher that violates the directive will face appropriate disciplinary measures.
