Some residents in Enugu State are canvassing for the adoption of two shifts for academic activities in primary and secondary schools as the government announced January 18 for the reopening of schools in the state.

A cross-section of the parents who spoke with NAN on Saturday said they were advocating for such a move in order to reduce overcrowding and thus wide-scale transmission of COVID-19 within schools.

They specifically recommended morning and afternoon sessions as a viable shift system.

Emmanuel Chike, a parent, said that the resumption of schools on January 18 was a welcome development as the students had over stayed at home.

Mr. Chike suggested that morning and afternoon sessions should be created in all schools, as it would enable both the pupils and students to observe all COVID-19 protocols successfully.

Another resident, Ada Ikejiobi, explained that the two sessions would reduce the population of the pupils and students in classrooms, thereby creating a more conducive environment for learning, in spite of the pandemic.

“When pupils and students are reduced in number in schools, their numbers in classrooms will also be reduced, therefore maintaining physical or social distancing will not be difficult.

“Orderliness in every activity in the school will also be maintained,” Mrs. Ikejiobi said.

Eugene Onyema, who has wards in a primary school, recommended that Nursery to primary three pupils should be allowed to attend classes in the morning, while primary four to six pupils should attend the afternoon session.

”The secondary schools should also follow the same system, Junior Secondary School (JSS 1-3) to attend classes in the morning, while the Senior Secondary Schools (SSS1-3) attend theirs in the afternoon,” Mr. Onyema said.

Henry Ugochukwu noted that the reason for the recommendation was to have a successful academic year in 2021, in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I think the morning and afternoon sessions in schools were being practiced in the 1970s and 1980s, in some states in Nigeria, and it was a success because academic performances among students were high.

“As we enter the second phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, I suggest that the government creates two sessions for our children’s academic success,” Mr. Ugochukwu added.

NAN