School Resumption: Principals Task DTSG To Provide Desks, Marker Boards For Effective Learning

By Oguns Sammy
Following the resumption of schools across Delta State on Monday, 28th September, many principals in public schools have praised the efforts of the state government under the leadership of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa just as they called on the state government to assist the schools in the areas of more desks and marker boards to enable them comply to the fullest in terms of social distancing of the students which is occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic which has ravaged the world of which Nigerian is a part.

Speaking to Oasis Magazine (OM), the principal of Essi College I, Warri, in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State, Arukusi Enock said the teachers and students resumed for academic work and they are ready to learn.

He said the students’ levels of turn up today is 50%, a number he said he least expected on the first day of resumption.

He further said the school complied with the directive of the state government on COVID-19 guidelines, saying that apart from placing washhand apparatus in strategic places in the school, any student who failed to put on face mask was sent home.

He however said the only challenge they have now is, while there are enough seats (spaces) for students to occupy as regards the social distancing making one student to be on one seat, there are no enough marker boards to put in these classes to teach the students.

On her part, the principal of Essi College Il Warri, Chief (Mrs) Brown- Kpohraror J.A. said the resumption of teachers is 90% while the students is 60-70%, adding that before the school resumption, they have already drawn their time-table and prepared for academic activities.

She said the only challlenge despite many schools facilities, is the sitting arrangement of the compliance with Covid-19 guidelines in the school which will make students go by social distancing.

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Not left out is the Hussy College, Warri. The principal, Margaret Oputu said the students and teachers have fully resumed and they have no challenge. She said they are enough seats for students to sit for learning.

She however said if the government can provide more desks for the students, the school will be happy.

She said: “Although we have enough seats but the government can still provide more. It is good for the students.”

In the same vein, the principal of Nana Model College, Warri, (Mrs) Otomi Mofe said, there are no enough seats and classes for the students to learn going by the sitting arrangement.

She however said they have no choice but make do with the number of spaces available in the school, saying the Covid-19 has compelled them to adjust to the spaces available for the number of students to sit, adding that this of course, will determine the number of students they can admit for the next accademic session.

She said: “With what is on ground, the school will not be able to admit the huge number of students as in the past as the school will admit based on the number of seats and classes available.”

Adding: “The only challenge is that the students are more than the seats and classes available because of Covid-19 sitting arrangement.”

We also spoke to the principal of Dore Numa College, Warri, Comrade Ejoh Dimes Eyinmisan.

He said the students and teachers have fully resumed and fully complied with the guidelines of the Covid-19 as directed by the state government.

He said they have put wash hand apparatus in different areas in the school to senitise hands just as he said nornal academic work towards examination is ongoing.

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They all therefore thanked the Delta State government under the leadership of Sen. ( Dr) lfeanyi Okowa for the resumption as many of the students almost turned to traders and lost interest in education, saying that if the resumption had delayed more than this, many of the students would have lost interest in education totally.

He added that many of the students who were really ready to learn were already tired of sitting at home and very happy to resume for the day.

He also advised parents to provide the basic learning materials for their children and stop using them to sell in rhe market, adding that the government cannot be the one to provide sandals, unforms and books for their children.

The principal also admonished parents to help the schools to make the students comply with Covid-19 guidelines by wearing their facemasks to school.

On the students, the principals advised the students to take their studies seriously as there is no time, saying most of the time of study has been taken over by the Covid-19 pandemic which ravaged the world of which Nigeria is also involved.

Many students interviewed expressed joy about the resumption and thanked the state government for the gesture just as they promised to take their studies seriously.

Oasis Magazine also visited private schools among which are Delta Careers College, Effurun, Holy Family School Effurun, where it was found out that they did not resume because they have finished their second term’s examination and waiting for first term which they said will begin October 12.

It would be recalled that the state government through the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education just directed that secondary schools across the state to resume with Junior Secondary one and two and Senior Secondary one and two to conclude the academic session just as they begin a new academic session.