The National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools and the Nigeria Union of Teachers on Monday said the postponement of the general elections was compatible with the schools’ academic calendar.
Chief Yomi Otubela, the NAPPS’ President, Lagos State Chapter, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos that the postponement was an advantage because it would ensure a hitch-free term in the schools’ calendar.
NAN reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission on February 7 announced the postponement of the elections from February 14 and 28 to March 28 and April 11.
Otubela said despite the Federal Government’s announcement that schools would not be closed during the elections, some parents from South-Eastern Nigeria had withdrawn their wards and children from schools.
He said such parents claimed they could not guarantee the security of their children because of the state of the nation and as such would want to travel back home with their children and wards.
He said: “This development is a setback because if such children eventually returned to school, teachers would be made to start afresh with them.
“By March 28, schools would have completed their activities for the term and children would be at home, under the watchful eyes of their parents.”
Otubela said the postponement would enable the teaching staff of schools to pick up their Permanent Voter Cards to ensure their active participation in the polls.
He, however, decried the financial implication of the postponement of the elections on schools.
According to him, parents are not regular in the payment of their children’s school fees due to the elections.
The Lagos Wing of the Nigerian Union of Teachers said the shift in the elections date would not affect the educational sector in the state.
The NUT Chairman in Lagos State, Segun Raheem, said the exercise, scheduled for the weekends, would not clash with schools’ academic programmes.
Raheem said: “As far as the postponement is concerned, it does not affect the education sector.
“Some secondary schools with boarding facilities and tertiary institutions that had planned a holiday before the postponement should re-schedule such a break.”
The NUT official said it was important that an election should not only be credible but must be generally acceptable.
According to him, the logistic reason given by the INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, to ensure maximum distribution of PVCs is acceptable.
He said: “I hope INEC will write its name in the good books of the people by properly and adequately distributing the PVCs.
“We should also bear in mind that even if the PVCs are put at the doorsteps of some people, they will not pick it up.”
NAN.
Follow The Eagle Online Channel on WhatsApp
