The Nigerian Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has bemoaned the poor turnout of students in classes for the 2nd term of 2022/2023 academic session across schools in Kwali Area Council of Abuja.
The Education Secretariat of the FCT made the observation while on a routine inspection tour to both private and public schools, to asses resumption compliance level in schools.
While there was substantial presence of students and pupils in day schools (both private and public institutions), boarding schools recorded very low turnout of students since the resumption of schools on Monday.
Some of the schools visited includes: Government Secondary School, Government Science Technical College (GSTC), FCT LEA Pilot school, and Ambassador Global Academy, all in Kwali area of the FCT.
Speaking with Journalists during the tour, the Secretary, Education Secretariat, Sani Dahir El-Katuzu, disclosed that on the average, about 40% of students have resumed in the area, which leaves a lot to be desired.
El-Katuzu, said that the situation might not be unconnected to the insecurity especially in Kwali and Abaji Area Councils, as sometimes resumption are not immediate as expected.
He however, revealed that administrators of Schools in Kwali, were asked to use their initiatives to see that they introduce policies that will attract students to resume school immediately, so as to eschew lateness.
Inspection tour round schools
El-Katuzu said the Secretariat has a culture of going round schools in FCT at resumption and give advice to students that resumed.
He said “While we do it in the city centre, we found out that students resume almost immediately they are asked to, but unfortunately in Kwali, we have some little differences. Today, we came to schools in Kwali instead of the normal city centre inspection.
“We have come to see schools in Kwali, and we have observed that the resumption is not too poor, but actually it is not too good. On the average, about 40% of students have resumed school.
“We expect a situation where students will at least have more than 50% resumption, because you can not have 100%, as there has to be some issues experienced by both students and parents.
“The resumption in Kwali needs a lot to be desired. But, we have spoken with administrators of Schools, where we asked them to use their initiatives to see that they introduce policies that will attract students to resume school immediately, so that we don’t experience this kind of lateness.
“We are also aware that because of the security situation especially in Kwali and Abaji Area Councils, sometimes resumption will not be immediate as expected. That notwithstanding, we will continue to urge both students and school administrators to see that the students resume on time”, he explained.
El-Katuzu admonished students to always be hardworking, inorder to be properly developed for the future, as they are the leaders of tomorrow.
On his part, the Principal of Government Science Technical College, Kwali, Oyawale Olusegun, who disclosed that the school recorded only 25% resumption, said efforts are on ground to improve the situation.
Emmanuel Ukoh
