The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) on Saturday said the postponement of the 2019 general elections would affect students preparing for the West Africa Examinations Council (WAEC) and other external examinations.
Its Chairman in Lagos State, Mr Adesina Adedoyin, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the INEC decision would disrupt the schools second term academic calendar.
Also, Mr Usman Dutse, the National President of Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP), said the postponement was “unwise and showed the ill preparedness of the electoral body”.
According to Adedoyin, NUT is not too happy with the disruption or postponement of the 2019 elections, because it will disrupt the school calendar.
“It is unfortunate and very disheartening, because it is going to affect mostly, the students in the boarding schools.
“INEC came on air and told us that they are very prepared; they told us not to worry.
“There were even rumour that the elections will be postponed, yet INEC told us to disregard the rumour.
“The rumour now became a reality and it is affecting our children.
“In view of this, we are not too happy; some of us, who are parents, teachers and a stakeholder are deeply sad.
“I have my own child who will be writing external examination this year, and will be seriously affected,” Adesina said.
He added that with the new elections arrangements, the students would have holidays on three different occasions in the second term.
“Do we say the students should stay at home till after the presidential elections or should they go back on Monday and returned home again on Thursday?
“There is really not much sense in the new arrangement.
“With this development, we should assume that the students have had their second terms holiday.
“Ordinarily, it has affected their holidays, because the Lagos State newly adjusted calendar says instead of having 14 days for holiday, students will only have 10 days as second term holiday.
“But, with what is happening now, I do not know how they will do it,” he said.
The NUT Chairman said that with the latest development, it would be unwise for students to return to school on Feb. 18 and come back again home on Feb. 21.
According to him, the students were brought home on Feb. 14 and to return on Feb.18.
“Will they go back to school on Monday and return again on Thursday? Or will they remain at home till next week after the elections?
“These students are suppose to be doing serious reading for those who are in SS3, and will be writing external examinations which will commence toward the end of March.
“But for us, it is unwise for students to go back to school on Monday and returned back on Thursday and after two weeks, come home again.
“The best solution is for the students to remain at home from Feb.18 and return to their various schools on Feb. 25.
“This is the best thing to do, let the students stay at home,” he said.
In his comments, Dutse said that the country must learn to do things the proper way and avoid last minute change.
He said that the postponement would affect the confidence the public have in INEC.
Dutse explained the change in elections schedules was a loss to many people, saying that people had either made new plans, travelled, or rescheduled their programmes for the elections.
“As a country, we should learn to keep to date, while staying true proper arrangements, because this kind of situation could create suspicion.
“I think it is high time we grew up, doing things better and openly,” he said. (NAN)