– Bishop Ezeokafor Urges Soludo to Intervene
By Mmaduabuchi Onwumelu
The Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, His Lordship, Most Reverend Paulinus Ezeokafor, has expressed worry over long periods of time pupils and students spend in school.
The outspoken Prelate said an average pupil and student spent not less than 12 hours daily in school, wondering the time they had left to spend with their parents at home.
The charismatic and influential cleric spoke while delivering a homily during a Thanksgiving Mass organized in honour of the Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo’s Two Years in Office at the International Convention Centre, Awka, March 17, 2024.
He blamed the development on parents, who, he said, invariably shifted their responsibilities to teachers. He urged the Anambra State Governor to address the menace.
He said, ‘I want the Governor to look at the issue of pupils and students leaving their homes as early as 6:30am and to return home by 6pm. It is giving me serious concern. It is not good at all. I want the Governor to address the issue.
‘How can a child leave for school by 6:30am only to return by six in the evening? What time does that child have to interact with their parents?
‘From what I gathered, some parents are majorly the culprits. They keep pushing their children away. I even heard that some are giving their children away to teachers to groom for them.
‘They push primary school pupils and secondary school students to boarding schools, leaving their responsibilities to other persons.
‘It is so wrong. Let me say this here, nobody can train your children exactly the way you wish to. It’s not possible. I appeal to the Governor to put an end to this. After school lessons, they should allow these children to leave for their various homes.
‘During my time, I did not attend any lesson but I passed all my papers. I did very well, both in primary and secondary school. If I didn’t do well I would not be here today as a priest and eventually a Bishop.
‘I know they are doing it to get extra pay from the parents. The motivation is the money they are getting from these parents. They should find a way to teach whatever they want to teach during the regulation time.
‘I’m happy that the speaker is here alongside other lawmakers. They should do something in that regard. Children no longer spend adequate time with their parents.
‘There is a diminishing return. Once it sets in, the child can never respond to whatever thing you are dishing out. That thing you want to teach them after school, teach them during school hours,’ the prelate said.
