Abuja: Some public primary school pupils in Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have expressed mixed feelings and uncertainty following the suspension of a three-month-long teachers' strike. Speaking in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the pupils said they were concerned about lost academic time and unsure how the missed term would be recovered.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, primary school teachers in the FCT, under the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), embarked on an indefinite strike on March 24 over unpaid minimum wage and other welfare concerns. The NUT, in a communiqu© on Tuesday, directed its members to return to the classroom on Wednesday, following interventions by the FCT Minister, Mr. Nyesom Wike.
Joshua Peter, a Primary Four pupil, mentioned that while many pupils were excited to resume learning, they remained unsure about how to catch up. He expressed concern over the lost second term and noted that their counterparts in private schools were already writing examinations. Peter added that since resumption, teachers had not yet started lessons but had asked pupils to clean the school premises.
Similarly, Mercy Gwoza, another pupil, shared her joy at being back in class but expressed worry over the workload needed to catch up. She noted the likelihood of teachers rushing through the curriculum to cover lost ground. Another pupil, Jamiu Mahmoud, was happy to reunite with classmates but anxious about returning to academic work. He voiced concerns about his performance due to the disruption.
A parent, Mrs. Manji Amos, expressed relief at the children being back in school but stressed that affected pupils were now at a disadvantage regarding syllabus coverage and academic progress. She urged school authorities and teachers to manage the situation proactively.
Meanwhile, a school proprietor and education consultant, Mr. Tanimu Abdulmalik, recommended that teachers conduct quick assessments to determine pupils' current academic levels. He suggested starting with diagnostic tests or oral assessments in key subjects and implementing a Compressed Teaching Plan to prioritize core topics. Abdulmalik also recommended extending learning hours and introducing extra classes or weekend sessions.
A NAN correspondent visiting some schools observed full compliance with the resumption directive, although a few schools had pupils present without any teachers in classrooms.