Society

Back-to-school in West Region: Governor Awa Fonka urges stakeholders to ensure quality education.

As schools went underway Monday September 4 for the new academic year, the Governor of West Region, Awa Fonka Augustine, has called on education stakeholders in his administrative unit to ensure quality education is delivered to pupils and students.

The Governor made the call as he, accompanied by the West Regional Delegates of Basic and Secondary Education, went down to the field to take stock of how the new academic year began in schools across the Region.

While visiting several schools, Governor Awa Fonka called on students to respect their teachers, be serious and to avoid delinquent behaviour and drug consumption.

Across the West Region, the effectiveness of the start of the school year was evident, not only in major towns but also in rural areas.

In the West Region, which has been plagued by repeated attacks by separatist fighters from neighboring North West and South West Regions, the authorities and security forces have ensured that there should be no major incidents during this academic year.

After visiting the schools, Governor Awa Fonka said: “There are no false notes to report. The return to school is more than 96% effective in the West Region”.

He assured that even in areas where separatist fighters’ attacks have been frequent in the past, no incidents have been reported.

It should be recalled that before the start of the new school year in the West Region, teachers of both the Basic and Secondary Education had their sectorial meetings during which resolutions were taken to make the new school year run hitch-free.

Most schools held what was dubbed back-to-school night, during which parents and students checked out the classroom, met staff members, and found out what was in store for the new school year.

Observers say overall, despite a few isolated incidents, the new school year in the West Region has taken off on good footing.

This, they say, testifies to the commitment of authorities and teachers to ensure quality education, even in difficult circumstances.

Observers are thus hoping that this positive momentum will continue throughout the school year, allowing students to thrive and develop their skills for a promising future.

By Gerald Ngeh