By Amuche Agbo

The Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) in Ebonyi State, Comrade Francis Egwu Elechi has on Monday 14th June, 2021 called on the Ebonyi State Government ably led by Engr. David Umahi to fully reactivate e-learning programme for school children in both primary and secondary schools following the security situation in the State.

Elechi made this call while interacting with newsmen in Abakaliki, the State capital.

Recalled that Ebonyi State government introduced radio-television learning programmes for the school children as way of keeping the students abreast with their academic curricular due to the outbreak of the then global COVID-19 pandemic.

According to him, the radio-television academic teaching programme seemed to have been stopped as all the schools were reopened and the pandemic getting low with preventive measures already on ground.

But the State NUT Chairman noted that the insecurity problems across the nation have negatively affected learning in schools, and however, advised the government on adopting e-learning system to ensure the safety of students in their various schools.

He stated thus “The insecurity situation in the country is a problem, it affects every parts of the society including the schools, because right now in various schools alot of things are involved.

“Like the community schools, we advised every community to make arrangements for the security of the children in thier school, which is an extra burden, and parents also find it difficult to allow thier children to go very far.

“Before now, we use to have extra-moral lessons in schools but right now nobody does it, schools now make arrangements for security checks.

“However, because of the security reasons, we are thinking of advising the government to adopt e-learning, because, when the students come together, the people responsible for the crimes would take the advantage against them to get ransoms.”

Elechi also advised Nigerian youths to shun anything capable of degenerating security threats by embracing peaceful negotiations.

He said the voices of youths have been heard, stressing that the government in power would work towards addressing the issue of marginalisation, insecurity and other related issues in contention.

The NUT Boss while thanking Governor David Umahi on his developmental strides in Ebonyi State, called for employment of more teachers as those who exited from the teaching profession by way of retirement, death and movement for green pastures brought about lack of teachers in some subjects in different schools.

Speaking further, he commended Governor Umahi on taking care of teachers in the state especially his steady payment of their salaries as at when due.

He said, Ebonyi State has much to celebrate in marking the 2021 democracy day anniversary in considering the numerous infrastructural development recorded under Umahi’s led administration which has accorded him, the best governor among his counterparts in the country, especially in building quality infrastructures.

“As far as Ebonyi State is concern we have so much to celebrate, as far as infrastructure is concern, there is no state that will be rated first before Ebonyi, the state is number one interms of infrastructure.

“Think about the road! Think about the flyovers! Think about very powerful structures like the shopping mall, I don’t know whether you have been to Dubai? Personally, I never knew that’s what they have in mind but it’s exactly the type of shopping mall they have in Dubai, except for the size, otherwise, everything is the same. If celebration has to be in terms of structures, I think our celebration should have no limits in Ebonyi State,” he added