School Resumption: FCTA Decries Poor Turnout Of Students

Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has expressed disappointment at the poor turnout of students in classes for the 2nd term of the 2022/2023 academic session across some schools in the FCT.

Following the resumption of schools in FCT on Monday, the FCT Education Secretariat yesterday embarked on a routine inspection tour to both private and public schools, to assess the resumption compliance level in schools.

It was observed that while there was a substantial presence of students and pupils in day schools (both private and public institutions), boarding schools recorded a very low turnout of students since the resumption of schools on Monday.

Some of the schools visited include Government Secondary School, Government Science Technical College (GSTC), FCT LEA Pilot School, and Ambassador Global Academy, all in the Kwali area council of the FCT.

The secretary of the Education Secretariat, Dahir El-Katuzu, while speaking during the exercise disclosed that on average, about 40 students have resumed school in the area, which leaves a lot to be desired.

El-Katuzu noted that the situation may not be unconnected to the security situation especially in Kwali and Abaji area councils, as such resumption will not be 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, to prevent such kind of lateness.

According to him, the secretariat has a culture of going around schools in FCT at the resumption, to look into it and give advice to students that resumed.

“While we do it in the city center, we found out that students resume almost immediately after they are asked to, but unfortunately in Kwali, we have some little difference.

“We expect a situation where students will at least have more than 50 percent resumption because you cannot have 100 percent as there have 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, and we asked them to use their initiatives to see that they introduce policies that will attract students to resume school immediately so that we do not 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.

On his part, the principal of Government Science Technical College, Kwali, Oyawale Olusegun, who disclosed that the school recorded only 25 percent resumption, said efforts are on ground to improve the situation.