By Egbe Attah
The Area Education Officer (E.O.) for Otukpo Local Government of Benue State, Mr. Ameh Boniface, has called on parents to release their wards to school for academic activities.
Ameh, who made the call while interacting with newsmen in Otukpo on Friday, noted that the first term is short and that only early resumption of pupils and commencement of academic work would enable them to cover the work for the term.
“Going on tour of both primary and secondary schools in my area during the week, we found out to our annoyance that most schools in the council had resumed and teachers were teaching but attendance of learners was not encouraging.
“A visit to some institutions such as Government Secondary School, Government Day Secondary School, St. Monica’s Girls’ Secondary School, St Augustine’s Primary School among others in the area showed a good turnout of teachers eagerly engaged in their work but only few pupils were present.
“I would like to advise teachers to continue to devise ways of luring students to schools at the beginning of the term, through giving of tests, gifts and assignments,” he stated.
On the recent move by the Governor Alia administration to pay WAEC and NECO Examinations fees for the 2023/2024 final year students in government secondary schools in the state, Ameh hailed the idea but appealed that the gesture be extended to all government approved schools in the state to enable all Benue children feel the impact of government.
The education officer, however, implored the benefiting students to make judicious use of the gesture and come out with flying colours in their examinations to justify government’s investment in them.
