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By Madu Obi
The Anambra State government has banned school authorities from extending classes beyond the official closing time of 2.30 pm in line with the United Nations guideline.
The state Commissioner for Education, Prof Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, in a statement n Awka, said the adoption was also in line with Governor Chukwuma Soludo's desire for school children to have adequate rest and interaction with their parents before the commencement of the next day's activities.
She charged all school heads in the state to ensure closure of all daily academic activities by 2.30pm, to give room for the children to be at home by 3pm.
There had been criticisms concerning the forceful extension of school hours by their authorities, mainly for monetary gains, at the inconvenience of the pupils and parents.
Recently, the Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor, at a public function, expressed worry over long periods of time pupils spend in school, describing the practice as unhealthy to both the pupils and their parents.
Blaming teachers for the ugly development, Ezeokafor lamented that the current education system makes it almost impossible for pupils to spend quality time with their parents as teachers engaged them in lessons from 7am to 6pm.
He urged government to moderate the schools' academic and extracurricular activities to enable pupils balance their studies with home training and other engagements.
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