Parents have given nods for their children back to school fully on Mondays, if Anambra state government assured of adequate security for their children protection during classes period.
Recalls that the state government recently announced that students who fail to attend school on Mondays without a valid reason will be suspended for one week.
The Commissioner for Education, Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, made this known while meeting with the management of two schools in Onitsha accused of not complying with the government’s directive that schools must operate fully on Mondays.
According to her, the decision follows an instruction from
Governor Chukwuma Soludo, as part of efforts to stop disruptions caused by the long-running Monday sit-at-home order in the South-East.
Reacting, some parents have commended the government efforts to boost education in the state, but revealed that they were still scared of the negative implication of such directive if not backed by adequate security of their children.
“I have just one child, a boy and found it difficult to allow him go to school untill the government gives proactive assurance to stop insecurity in the state.
“These bad boys can strike at any time, unleash mayhem and nobody knew who would be a victim. God forbid, our children will not be their target, however, we have to be careful not to be taken by surprise, and make them, their prey.
Read also: Sit-at-home: Anambra slashes workers’ salaries for failure to attend work on Mondays
“I commend Governor Soludo for the scholarship initiative which have helped many poor parents using public schools to prepare their children educationally on the task ahead in live.
“We suffered untold hardship in the hands of private school owners before the governor announced scholarship for public primary schools and students of junior secondary schools from class one to three,” the woman who spoke under condition of anonymity said.
Mr Uche Obasi, an Onitsha-based resident said, “the commercial city is usually their target, nobody knew when, where and how these bad boys plan their nefarious activities.
“I cannot blame parents who have still not allowed their children to go to school. Thus, we know the state government is not sleep over the situation, but one must also careful while the matter lasted,” he said.
Meanwhile, more security operatives were usually on the roads monitoring and ensuring protection of life and property in the state on Mondays.
A senior police officer under condition of anonymity told BusinessDay Correspondent that security had improved tremendously in the state, particularly in Onitsha since his assumption of duty in the area.
“The environment is now calm, both visiting and within traders are enjoying the improve security in the area, and going about their normal business activities peaceful.
“The public and the media should help us with information, when you see something, say something. Security is for everybody to assist, and to improve ,” he said.
