Group faults Enugu govt decision to reopen schools

A civil rights group, International Solidarity for Peace and Human Rights Initiative (IS4-PAHRI), has faulted the decision by Enugu state government to reopen schools in the state on Monday, September 28, saying it lacked adequate planning and projection.

The group, in a statement by its president, Comrade Osmond Ugwu and secretary, Dr. Jerry Chukwuokolo said the timetable for the reopening of primary and secondary schools in the state was fraught with some shortcomings and inherent inadequacies.

IS4-PAHRI added that “while we appreciate the decision of the government to ensure that schools reopen at this time and that the children do not lose the entire session to COVID-19 pandemic, we wish to however point out some shortcomings of this programme and timetable.

“From our perspective, the decision and directive were so rash as they are so hasty, very impromptu and lack adequate planning and proper projections, and as such did not carry the parents who are the major critical stakeholders and bearers of the last effect of policy along.

“Even though the statement of the government informed that the decisions were reached after consultation with the stakeholders, we see the stakeholders under reference as no other people than the representatives of proprietors of schools of whom many of them have been so eager to resume schools by all means before now mainly for pecuniary reasons due to the prolonged harsh economic effects of COVID-19 pandemic on the livelihoods.

“The decision and programme are so harsh on the parents who have suffered a lot of hardship from the prolonged harsh economic effects of COVID-19 pandemic compounded by the sustained harsh economic policies of the Federal Government.

For the government to come up with a decision on Thursday 24th 2020 to reopen schools on Monday 28th, with only 5 days notice/information to the parents is not fair and smacks of laxity or insensitivity on the part of the government actors in that regard, bearing in mind the huge financial implications involved in getting the children prepared and meet up with other financial obligations, especially on the part of those whose children attend private and mission schools.

“Apart from replacing the worn out uniforms, lost books and other learning materials, preparations have to be made for transportation, school fees paid in the banks and tellers present at the gate before students are allowed entry into the schools on the day of resumption; those living in the boarding schools must buy all the necessary items needed in the hostels before going back to school. In some cases, many parents have more than two students in one or different schools and must be adequately provided for in order to have a balanced psychology for conducive learning. Definitely five days information/notice is not in anyway enough for the parents to meet with these obligations.

“The far reaching consequences of this impromtu arrangement is the parents are unduly subjected to avoidable pressure with its attendant stress and trauma with their serious health implications on them and the children as well.

“Besides that, many children are most likely gong to miss the term especially some of them whose parents may not be able able to meet up due to reason of health challenges or present financial challenges. If atleast one month notice was given, they would have had more time to run around and meet up either through borrowing or by any other means.

“It should be recalled that parents paid heavily fir the online lessons throughout the lockdown periods and from the timetables, 1st term of the next session will start 9 days after two months of resumption on 28th, and the same financial challenges will be experienced immediately without space to breath for a respite.

“To point out also in this regard is that there is no mention of reduction in the fees to be paid in this second term since it is only two months that will be spent in the school in this 3rd term. That being the case, the fees should reduce both in the both of private, mission and public schools.

“Government has everything at its disposal to do things in the most suitable ways and make life easy and happy for all concerned. But the problem is always either the wrong persons are in the right places or insensitive persons are icharge of sensitive affairs.

“It is believed that the decision of the government to reopen schools now is based on the conviction of the reduction in incidence of Covid-19 virus infections and transmission and that conviction is derived from a long period of studies, permutations and projections that were followed with longtime planning on the responses.

“That being the case, with these presumed assumptions, the operators would have based on the data received and documented atleast about two months ago been able to project that the schools would reopen in the next 4 to 6 weeks and start the necessary consultations and sensitizations on time through the organs of mass communication especially the Broadcast media to carry people along and help them prepare for the challenges ahead on time. That is one of the ways to good governance processes and precepts. With that a simple but sensitive approach, a lot problems could be mitigated.”

In its recommendation, IS4-PAHRI called for “a phased reopening of classes in all the primary and secondary schools in Enugu for both the public, private and mission schools pending the construction of new classroom blocks for effective and permanent maintenance of physical distancing since it is one of the condition precedence for elimination of Covid-19.

“What we mean by this is at the moment and in order to correct the already made mistake of not starting on time and at the same time achieve the target of meeting up with the Academic Calendar in good health and in life for the children, there should be a reduction in the lesson hours and splitting of children into two with al the schools with large population of children running shift-classes of day and mid-day session or phase. While this is on, all school owners have to construct new classes between November 2020 and march 2021 for return to the normal process and making room for permanent physical distancing.”

Others recommendations made by the group include, “the reduction in school fees, postponement of school reopening till Wednesday or Thursday next week for proper hygienic measures, government provision of face masks and hand sanitizers for the first 6 months, regular training and sensitization of appointed and employed personnel and appointing personnel based on their pedigree of experience, patriotism and not political loyalty.”