school – anabenonline

The Lagos State Government has expressed displeasure at the non-compliance of schools towards the resumption date given by the government.

Although it is three days after official resumption of schools, it has been noticed that some private schools are still on holiday, while attendance has not peaked in those which have resumed.

The Director General, Office of Education Quality Assurance, OEQA, Mrs Abiola Seriki-Ayeni, who led a team to monitor compliance with the resumption in some parts of Lagos, said it was unfortunate that some schools have refused to implement the harmonised academic calendar.

She urged parents to encourage their children to go back to school on time.

“It is part of our duties that we have a harmonised school calendar developed in conjunction with all of our stakeholders and that was done last June after a series of meetings with all stakeholders. The calendar was published last July and sent to all appropriate quarters.

“We noticed that some did not comply with the calendar last term when we were to have the mid-term break. With this COVID-19 issue, we need to make maximum use of the time we have to teach our children. Going round today, the compliance level could be better. We are not relenting on sensitising stakeholders,” she said.

When asked what would happen to schools that have not resumed, Seriki-Ayeni said, ” We sealed such schools with stickers indicating that they did not comply with the resumption guideline. We also gave them letters containing what the next line of action would be. However, our main aim is to let everybody understand the importance of having a strong start whenever the term begins.

“Whoever does not start well and strongly may have suffered a setback. We should go for the best for our children. School owners should also communicate appropriately with parents on the need for their children to be in school all the time.”

Out of the eight private schools visited by the team in Ajegunle, Amukoko and Ijora areas, only two have resumed though the turnout of students was poor.

Seriki-Ayeni also visited the Tolu Schools Complex in Ajegunle where she met teachers and students and went round some of the classes.

It is pertinent to recall that last Friday, the state government announced Tuesday, January 4 as the resumption date for the second term of the 2021/2022 academic session.

The Christmas and New Year holiday period, however, affected attendance in schools as many people travelled during the yuletide period.

Kaduna shuts two schools over alleged rape, impregnating of minors

The Kaduna State Schools Quality Assurance Authority (KSSQA) on Friday, has closed two Islamiyah schools indefinitely over alleged rape of a six-year-old girl and impregnating of another.

One of the schools, Madrasatul Ulumul Deeniya wa Tahfizul Qur’an, located in Rigasa, was shut down after a six-year-old girl was allegedly raped in the school premises.

The other Islamiyah school, located at Tsohon Masallacin Juma’a in Kachia, Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State was closed after a 12-year-old girl was allegedly impregnated by a 50-year-old teacher at the school.

The school in Rigasa was shut down by the Overseer of the KSSQA, Mr Idris Aliyu. He revealed that the six-year-old girl was raped in the school and the school authority covered it up and claimed ignorance of the incident.

According to Aliyu, the victim’s grandmother complained about the incident to the school authority but ended up being beaten by the students and teachers of the Islamiyah.

He also said that Governor Nasir El-Rufai had given orders for the Islamiyah to be shut down indefinitely until investigation is concluded and the culprit arrested.

“The headmaster of the school would be held responsible for the act until all persons in the school were profiled and the perpetrator identified by the survivor and prosecuted,” he said.

“The individuals responsible for the violence against the grandmother, especially the headmaster, will also be prosecuted.”

“This is in line with the state government’s responsibility in protecting the vulnerable population in the state,” he said.

However, on his part, the head-teacher of the school, Malam Kabir Abdullahi, has denied the allegation, saying “it is not a rape. What we gathered is that an unidentified boy injured the girl in her private part with a stick.”

Abdullahi said that the case was currently under investigation by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Rigasa, ASP Abubakar Bauranya.

The DPO confirmed receiving the case the way it was narrated by the headteacher of the Islamiyah school.

But the grandmother of the girl, Hajiya Batul Gambo insisted that her grandchild was violated and had been confirmed by Sexual Assault Referral Centre, Yusuf Dantsoho Memorial Hospital Tudun Wada, Kaduna.

A medical report signed by Dr A Raji also backed Gambo’s claim that the six-year-old was raped.

According to Raji’s report, she was bleeding due to “virginal bruising of the labia minora, bilaterally periurethral bruising, heamatoma of the clitoris and laceration of the hymen.”

Concerning the rape and impregnation of the 12-year-old girl in Kachia, Aliyu said that the she was six months pregnant.
The school was shut down as well, as the safety of the pupils cannot be guaranteed.

He explained that the Commissioner of Human Services and Social Development, Hajiya Hafsat Baba and the Commissioner for Education, Hajiya Halima Lawal would work closely with the police to investigate and ensure justice is done.

“Meanwhile, the two schools will remain closed until investigations are concluded and the culprit prosecuted in accordance with the law,” he said.

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