Anambra State Governor, Charles Soludo, has visited several schools across the state to assess compliance with the government’s directive requiring educational institutions and businesses to resume full operations on Mondays.
The inspection formed part of the administration’s effort to monitor the implementation of policies introduced after authorities moved to end the long-standing “sit-at-home” disruptions that had affected economic and social activities across parts of the state.
During the visits, the governor toured classrooms, interacted with pupils and teachers, and observed attendance levels as lessons were underway. The assessment aimed to determine whether schools had returned to normal academic schedules following years of irregular Monday closures.
According to reporting by Arise News, Soludo expressed satisfaction with what he witnessed, noting that several schools visited were actively conducting classes and had resumed routine academic activities.
Addressing the issue of school attendance patterns, the governor questioned the logic of a shortened learning week in comparison with other parts of the country. He remarked: “The rest of the country the children will be going to school 5 days in a week. and you expect our children to do better than them.”
He added that the state government had therefore taken steps to restore the standard five-day academic calendar. “So that's why we decided on Monday to Friday.”
Monitoring Compliance
Officials accompanying the governor also reviewed classroom participation and the general learning environment during the visits. Authorities said the exercise was designed to ensure schools were complying with the directive to operate fully from Monday through Friday.
Soludo said the government’s priority is to ensure students in Anambra are not disadvantaged academically due to prolonged interruptions that previously affected the education sector.
Over the past several years, Monday closures associated with security concerns and civil protests had disrupted school activities in many communities across the state, forcing some institutions to compress lessons into fewer days.
Return to Normal Activities
Following the inspections, the governor said he was encouraged by the level of participation observed among teachers and pupils.
He noted that many schools were functioning normally, with students attending classes and educators delivering lessons. “really very pleased to know that all of them all of them are open all of them open full throttle for school activities today were in classes teachers teaching students enthusiastic and happy to be back to be back after 5 years of not going to school for Mondays.”
Soludo said the resumption of regular school operations represents a broader return to routine life across the state.
Wider Economic and Social Impact
The governor also linked the restoration of Monday school activities to wider changes in public life since the state government enforced the directive ending the weekly shutdown.
According to him, multiple sectors have resumed full operations. “this completes the circuit of ending Monday sit at home. Schools are back. Businesses are back. Markets are back. Public servants are back and therefore the state is fully back.”
Authorities say the policy is intended to stabilise economic activity and reduce disruptions affecting public services and businesses.
Signs of Increased Public Activity
Observers note that public spaces across the state have begun to record increased movement on Mondays since the directive came into force earlier in the year.
Markets, offices and transport services have gradually resumed operations on the first working day of the week, reversing a pattern that had become common in parts of the South-East.
According to Arise News, the state government believes restoring regular school attendance is a critical step in reversing the educational setbacks caused by the years of interruptions.