Public primary and secondary schools in Enugu were shut on Friday, when the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar stormed the state for the Feb. 16 presidential election campaign.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that students of the various public secondary schools were seen going home as early as 10 a.m. as a result of the campaign visit by Atiku’s train.
One of the students, who wanted anonymity told NAN that his teacher told him and others in the class to go home because of Atiku’s visit.
It was the same situation in other public schools visited by NAN education correspondent in Enugu town.
The students, however, said they were not mandated to attend the campaign rally holding at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium.
Meanwhile, some parents in the state have faulted the decision to send students home because of a political campaign rally.
r Francis Ogbu, said it was wrong to have suspended academic activities due to an individual’s political aspiration.
Ogbu said that under-age students needed not to be dragged into politics.
Mrs Uzoamaka Onukwuburi also in her comments, wondered what might have informed the closure of public schools before the usual time.
Onukwuburi said that she could not understand why politics had degenerated to the level of suspending academic activities due to a campaign rally.
The Commissioner for Education, Prof. Uche Eze, could not be contacted on phone for comments.
