By Praise Chinecherem
Anambra State Government has adopted the United Nations (UN) stipulations for schools to end daily academic activities by 2.30pm.
Commissioner for Education, Prof Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, in a statement, said the adoption was in line with Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s desire for school children to have adequate rest and interaction with their parents before the commencement of the next day’s activities.
She charged all school Heads in the State to ensure closure of all daily academic activities by 2.30pm, to give room for the children to be at home by 3pm.
The Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Revd Paulinus Ezeokafor had expressed worry over long periods of time pupils spend in school, describing the practice as unhealthy to both the pupils and their parents.
The prelate who blamed teachers for the ugly development, lamented that the current education system makes it almost impossible for pulpils to spend quality time with their parents as teachers engaged the pupils in lessons from 7am to 6pm.
He urged government to moderate the schools academic and extracurricular activities to enable pulpils balance their studies with home training and other engagements.
