By Emma Elekwa
The Anambra State Government has suspended nine headteachers and principals for two weeks over persistently low attendance of pupils and students in their schools on Mondays.
Dr Vera Nwadinobi, Chairperson, Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB), said the suspension followed findings from a state-wide monitoring exercise.
Nwadinobi said exercise assessed compliance with a government directive abolishing school closures linked to the Monday sit-at-home order.
She said the directive was issued through an Executive Order announced during the State Executive Council retreat held on Jan. 21.
According to her, government had warned that teachers and non-teaching staff who fail to comply with the directive risk sanctions, including salary deductions or forfeiture.
The affected schools include Union Primary School and Walter Eze Secondary School, both in Ukpo.
Aguoji Primary School and Hilltop Primary School in Ifitedunu as well as Chukwurah Primary School, Abatete.
Others are Uzubi Primary School and Union Primary School in Eziowelle; Umunebo Primary School, Nteje and Central School, Atani.
All are government-owned schools across different local government areas of the state.
Nwadinobi who led the monitoring team, expressed disappointment over the continued low turnout of pupils and students despite government directives.
She said the exercise was part of efforts to ensure strict compliance with the Executive Order restoring normal academic activities on Mondays.
“The government approved the immediate suspension of the affected school heads for an initial period of two weeks.
“They were also directed to hand over duties to the next most senior officers to ensure continuity of administrative and academic activities,”she said.
Nwadinobi described the action as a demonstration of government’s zero tolerance for negligence and warned that future infractions could attract stiffer sanctions,
including dismissal from service.
Findings from Monitoring Exercise
She said findings from the monitoring exercise showed widespread absenteeism among pupils and students, even though some teachers were present in several schools visited.
“At Union Primary School, Ukpo, only three pupils were present, while Walter Eze Secondary School recorded no student attendance.
“Aguoji Primary School, Ifitedunu, had five pupils, while Hilltop Primary School recorded three.
“Similarly, no pupil was present at Chukwurah Primary School, Abatete, while Uzubi Primary School, Eziowelle, had two pupils.
“At Union Primary School in the same community recorded three pupils.
“No pupil was found at Umunebo Primary School, Nteje and Central School, Atani, at the time of the visit,” she said
Mixed Reactions
Mixed reactions have greeted the suspension of the schools’ heads.
While some commended the move, others described it as injustice and abuse of power.
They argued that some of the suspended school heads were present in school.
They were not expected to force parents to bring their children to school on Mondays if they decided not to.
