By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

Schools in Anambra State have resumed for the 2019/2020 third term session following the long break as a result the COVID-19 lockdown.

When News Express went round some schools in Awka, the state capital, on Monday, most students were seen in a jubilant mood.

Though some were excited to be back to school to see their friends and take promotion exams, others seemed apprehensive that the issue of the Coronavirus pandemic was yet to be over.

Speaking to News Express, an SS2 student of Kenneth Dike Secondary School, Ijeoma Okeke, expressed happiness that she was back to school.

She said: “I got tired of staying at home at a point and was praying for government to reopen schools. At least after the exam, I will move over to the next class, SS3. I have been eager to get there and graduate out of secondary school.”

On whether she was not afraid of an explosion of COVID-19 following the re-opening of schools, she added: “Aunty, was there even Coronavirus in the first place? I don’t think it’s here with us, if not all of us would have been dead by now.”

On his part, a student of Destiny Secondary School, Emeka Oraka, wondered why it took so long for schools to be re-opened insisting that there was no COVID-19 in the state.

He however thanked the State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, for finally reopening schools in the state.

Another student, Chioma Nwuzo, said that schools should have remained closed until next year to ensure the pandemic is eradicated.

She said: “I am worried that there may be upsurge in positive cases but I pray God, it doesn’t happen.”

Some students of St. John of God Secondary School, Awka, said they were happy to be back in school to learn and see their adding that staying at home had long become boring.

An SS2 student of the school, Nwamaka Eze, said: “We are happy that schools have resumed again. We are happy that we are coming to learn again, and also happy to meet with our friends who we have not seen for a very long time. We are no longer comfortable staying at home, and we thank government for reopening schools.”

It was observed that raps have been installed in different areas within the Kingdom Heritage Model School, a private primary school owned by the Bishop David Oyedepo-led Winners Chapel, Awka, even as all pupils resuming for school were mandated to wash their hands before entering the school.

A teacher in the school, who said she was not at liberty to speak to the press, said: “We have orders from the management not to let parents into the school. Everything in the school have been decontaminated, so we do not want external people to come and contaminate any surface in the school.”

A parent of one of the pupils, Mrs. Nkechi Ozoemena, while expressing joy that the re-opening will put an end to the nuisance constituted by children at home said: “We are happy because these children need to start coming out again. They have been at home for too long.”

She called on the federal and state governments to intervene and ensure that there will be uniform school calendar among schools.

“We have heard rumours that some schools plan to round off this third term hastily and now start first term again this year. Government should let the third term run for the full three to four months before closing, while schools can now open again in January 2021 for the first term,” she added.

In all the schools visited, there was strict compliance to COVID-19 guidelines and protocols.

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