Despite the fact that the Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba announced late last month that there is no fixed date yet for schools
Despite the fact that the Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba announced late last month that there is no fixed date yet for schools to resume in the country as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, a few schools have ignored that order and have resorted to other measures to educate their students/pupils with some even demanding for schools fees and a few others being ‘magnanimous’ enough to give parents discount off school fees.
One of such schools is Peace Ville School, whose style of operation even while schools are supposed to be under lockdown has been frowned on by parents. The school, an independent, co-educational Christian British/Nigerian curriculum Nursery and Primary School owned by the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, announced May 6 as resumption date for the third term and asked parents to pay school fees within the next two weeks.
In a newsletter sent out to parents and signed by the Head of School, Mrs Elizabeth Adebayo, the school highlighted the urgent need to continue teaching their pupils to avoid any gap in learning and therefore asked parents to make prompt payment of fees to enable them adequately compensate their teachers who are running the virtual school via platforms. In addition, parents were asked to come to the school to get their children’s books adding that examination will also be done via zoom.
A parent (who preferred to remain anonymous) who felt it was all shades of wrong considering the fact that the school was not only flouting federal governments’ order of no online school pending when it would be safe to reopen schools but also because of the urgency of asking for school fees to be paid within two weeks, not minding that some parents may have lost their jobs due to COVID-19 or that some who are entrepreneurs may not have the means to do so.
Besides, the parent felt the school should have consulted with parents before reaching a decision, something that is rare and a trait the parent said is a recurring decimal with the Head of School since she assumed duty in 2018. From not responding to their complains about network fluctuations for zoom and google virtual classes, to blocking parents from writing on the Peace Ville school parents/ teachers WhatsApp group which was originally set up for airing of complains and concerns, to even stopping physical parents’ meeting just before the shutdown.
