Katsina parents, students happy as schools reopen

As students resume schools in Katsina State, following seven months of school shut-down occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic, parents and students across the state have expressed joy over the development.

Arewa Trust Weekly went round schools in the state and reports that both students and teachers were complying with the COVID-19 protocol especially the use of face masks.

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The state government had announced that all classes would open for the continuation of the second term of the 2019/2020 session effective October 5th. However, to ensure manageable number of students per class under the COVID-19 protocol, the government ordered that classes be held in shifts with primaries 1-3 going for morning classes, while primaries 4-6 go for evening classes in schools with large number of students.

Some students, who spoke with our reporter, said they were excited at the decision of government to reopen schools.

Khadija Lawal Kurfi said, “We are really happy that we are back to school after that long unwanted vacation. We are praying to Allah to help us pass our exams.”

Another student, Halima Umar, said staying at home for such a long time had been terrible and hoped that the country would never go through such experience in future.

A parent, Alhaji Lawal Saidu, also expressed joy at the resumption of schools saying: “It was sad that they were staying at home without doing anything, and as the saying goes, an idle mind is the devil’s workshop.

“We have better control over our children when they are in school, but when schools are closed, you may not know when they will sneak out of home and they may find themselves among bad company and you know this peer influence may impact on their moral training and discipline,” he said.

Another parent, Alhaji Abba Muhammad Katsina, who expressed happiness over the resumption of schools, called on parents to play their part by providing their wards with face masks and hand sanitisers to help protect them from contracting the disease.

Speaking with Arewa Trust Weekly, the state Commissioner of Education, Dr. Badamasi Lawal, who was on inspection tour of schools, expressed his satisfaction with the level of compliance.

“Children stay more at home than in schools, so they are more at risk of contracting the disease at home. I want to call on parents to play their own part by ensuring that their children stay safe at home and school,” he said.