By Egbe Attah
As schools resumed on Monday for the first term of the 2022/2023 Academic Session, public primary schools in Otukpo Local Government of Benue State records low turnout of pupils.
Monitoring the resumption in company with the Education Secretary, Local Government Education Authority (LGEA) Otukpo, Augustine Okwoli and some officials of the agency, The Voice, observed that at LGEA Primary School Uga-Adoka, only three pupils and four teachers turned-up for school.
Other schools visited in the local government such as Methodist Primary School, Ojenebe, RCM Primary School, Okpeje, St Mary’s Primary School and UBE Junior Secondary School, Ogobia, St Augustine Primary School, Otukpo as well as St Andrew’s Primary School recorded few pupils or no one at all.
However, St Charles Primary School, Okpanehe Adoka had 80 pupils, St Francis’ Primary School, Otukpo had 75 with St Peter’s Junior Secondary School, Otukpo and its Ojila counterpart having 105 and students 63 respectively.
Addressing the schools separately, the Education Secretary, Augustine Okwoli, called on parents to release their wards for school, saying the holiday was over, even as he called on the teachers to commence academic work in earnest to attract more population.
According to him; “the new session has begun and I urge you to start teaching your pupils as that will not only attracted more student population to your school but, also help you in managing the term as it is very short.
“If possible, give principal or headmaster’s test to the early resumers or give gifts to them. This will not only serve as compensation for those that came on the first day of resumption but also encourage others to come on time in subsequent terms.”
The E.S. commended the huge turnout of students and staff of St Peter’s UBE Junior Secondary School, Otukpo and urged others to emulate it while decrying the theft and vandalism of schools in the area during the last holiday.
The Voice reports that those who accompanied the E.S. on the tour included Kems Ode, Head of Social Mobilisation, Rev Itodo Adah, Head of Quality Assurance and Sunday Ochakiti, the Sports Officer.
