Education
Ebonyi Community School Closure Denies Children Access to Common Entrance Exams
Ekuson Nw’Ogbunka Abuja
Amasiri community is currently gripped by distress as children have reportedly been unable to sit for the common entrance examination following the prolonged closure of schools on the directive of Francis Nwifuru, Governor of Ebonyi State. The development was disclosed in a press statement issued over the weekend by Joy Idam, a concerned indigene of the community.
The common entrance examination, a crucial gateway to secondary education, has become inaccessible to many pupils due to ongoing security concerns and restrictions within the community. Parents fear that months of disrupted academic activities have negatively affected their children’s preparedness.
“For many families, this is a heartbreaking setback,” a concerned parent lamented. “I have watched my child study at home every day, hoping schools would reopen. Now the examination is here, and they cannot even take it. What happens to their future?”
Education advocates maintain that while security measures are essential, extended school closures may result in lasting social and academic consequences, especially for vulnerable children. They point out that Nigeria’s Child Rights Act guarantees every child the right to free, compulsory, and universal basic education.
The legislation aligns with Nigeria’s commitments under global frameworks, including the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Legal experts emphasize that although governments may introduce temporary measures in times of crisis, such actions should not amount to a prolonged denial of access to fundamental education.
Stakeholders in the community are therefore urging Governor Nwifuru to urgently reassess the situation and create a safe avenue for affected pupils to sit for their examinations. Beyond administrative decisions, the matter underscores a deeper concern — the deferred aspirations of Amasiri’s children.
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