Despite the sit-at-home ordered by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), pupils and candidates sitting for examinations are defying the directive. Nwanosike Onu, Awka, Damian Duruiheoma, Enugu, Ogocukwu Anioke, Abakaliki, Chris Njoku, Owerri, and Sunny Nwankwo, Umuahia, write.
In the beginning, the sit-at-home ordered by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) functioned effectively in the Southeast as schools were closed. Teachers and students were flogged by the pro -Biafra agitators, who were visiting schools to implement the order.
Motorcycles, vehicles and school blocks were razed by some hoodlums to instill fear in the pupils, especially, in Imo State. Most of the students were denied opportunity to sit for examinations, especially, those who were taking the Senior Secondary Schools Examinations Councils (WAEC) and National Examinations Council (NECO) in some areas.
Early last month, candidates for the 2022 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in Enugu State were stranded following the sit-at-home order.
The 2022 Computer-Based Test (CBT), which began on May 6, was postponed because of the directive. Even, students writing the ongoing SSCE decried the stress they went through to write the Food and Nutrition paper due to non-availability of transportation.
Some of them said they trekked long distances to meet up with the examination.
In Anambra State, candidates could not also access their examination halls despite arriving as early as 7am. The halls were locked.
An official at the Integral Development Consult, Awka, Mrs. Ngozi Nwude-Nduka, said the centre was shut to “play safe” and not jeopardise the security of candidates.
She said: “We want to ensure nothing happens to the candidates. Besides, possibilities of non-vehicular movement may be experienced and so hinder easy transportation for candidates who will come from distant places.
“This centre hosts 250 candidates at each session, comprising morning, afternoon and evening, and we cannot afford to jeopardise their security.”
Paradigm shift in Anambra
But today, there’s a difference, as students attend classes, both in primary and secondary schools in the zone despite the shadows of IPOB operatives creating fears in the minds of the people.
In Anambra State, it’s a mixed grill as some schools, especially the public ones, observe the sit-at-home every Monday in the state. But some of the private schools allow their pupils to attend classes, but in a secret manner.
Some of the proprietors, who spoke with The Nation in confidence, said they would not want to risk the lives of their pupils, since security operatives had no answer to the situation.
One of the teachers told The Nation in Awka that they stopped the pupils from coming to school on the sit-at-home days because the gunmen operate like spirits. Another teacher in one of the public schools in Nawfia, Njikoka Local Government Area said they decided to stop their students because of the constant threats from unknown persons.
Reacting to the situation, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Chukwuma Soludo, Mr. Chris Aburime, regretted that the sit-at-home was seriously affecting the pupils. However, he said with the measures the Soludo-led administration was putting in place, very soon, the sit-at-home would be a thing of the past.
Aburime said since the administration came into power, coupled with the address he delivered on the inauguration day to the people of Anambra, things have started falling into place.
He said the government was working hard to ensure that the situation returned to normal, adding that the government would continue to dialogue with non-state actors for peace to reign.
Braving the odds in Enugu
Determined not to miss out on any paper, final year students of senior secondary schools in Enugu State braved the odds to write their West African Senior School Certificate Examination examinations despite the sit-at-home in the state.
Some of the pupils had missed out on some papers, especially English Language written on one of the sit-at-home Mondays last year.
But, this time around, our correspondent observed that schools have taken certain measures to ensure their final year students did not miss any of their examinations due to the order.
Speaking to our correspondent in confidence, a principal of one of the schools said the management adopted some security measures to help the pupils.
“I may not want to let you know our strategy. Just know that no school is prepared to allow its pupils forfeit examinations because of the sit-at-home.
“Even the state government did not fold its arms. A lot of actions have been laid down to forestall any attack on any school,” the principal said.
No negative effect on education in Ebonyi
In Ebonyi, The Nation gathered that the sit-at-home has not had any negative effect on education as students attended classes and took examinations.
A teacher in one of the public schools, Ikechukwu Igwe, said the sit-at-home was rarely observed in the state, hence, schools were always in session. Igwe lauded the state government for setting up Ebubeagu security outfit, which has helped to provide security in the state.
Commissioner for Education Dr. Sunday Nwangele hailed security agencies and the state government for creating a conducive atmosphere for education to thrive.
“As we speak, Senior School Certificate Examination is ongoing in the state, including on Mondays. Ebonyi people have long denounced the sit-at-home. We don’t observe it in this state. And our schools are functioning to the optimum because of this,” he said.
Imo stakeholders lament effect on education sector
A human rights activist and social commentator, Chief Ishmael Nnadozie, expressed concern over the continued Monday sit-at-home policy by the residents of Southeast. He said aside its adverse on the economic lives of the people and that of the region, the situation, if allowed to continue, would promote academic indifference among the youths.
According to the human rights activist, the weekly order, which, he said, has reduced the number of school days per week, has in some areas encourage pupils to resort to all forms of immoralities and idleness to the detriment of their studies. Teachers, he added, now use the situation to indulge in non-academic activities such as pretty trading.
Chief Obidike Iwumba, a retired headmaster and community leader, noted that the order has become a setback to the Igbo Nation in their spirit of perseverance and hardwork.
He said an average Igbo man is not used to idleness, but for consistent struggle and resilient.
The elder statement warned that as a people who believe in economic self-reliance, the order, if not reversed, would promote more hardship and starvation among the people.
Private schools begin weekend lessons in Abia
Most privately owned schools operating across major cities of Abia State have been forced to begin weekend academic activities as part of efforts to cover the academic gaps created by the order.
This could not be said for public schools as teachers in the state and the government are at loggerhead over non-payment of accrued salaries and pensions arrears.
Most students of the state and Federal Government’s polytechnics and universities are at home in recent months over the continued industrial action embarked upon by their lecturers, who are currently on a round-table discussion with the government.
Most operators of privately owned schools in Aba, Umuahia and other neighbouring semi-urban areas have begun Saturday lessons in their respective schools.
While Abia has since witnessed relative peace since the enforcement of the sit-at-home order, proprietors and managers of private schools said the inability of parents to send their wards and children to school on Mondays was the reason they adopted the weekend lessons to cover up lost grounds due to the order.
A school principal said: “Some of our pupils sit for overseas scholarship exams. Some proceed to private polytechnics and universities after their secondary school exams.
“The sit-at-home order is only in the Southeast and so, there’s no way we could mount pressure on the government to adjust the existing curriculum.
“We are losing our student population to our counterparts in the Southsouth and other parts of the country because of the IPOB’s order. So, the choice of Saturday lessons will help us cover the gap of Mondays’ sit-at-home. It has being fruitful since we started it.
“It is very useful, especially for our students, who are sitting for examinations. The Saturday lessons even give us the opportunity to work closely with the pupils and I must say that the impact has been awesome.”
