FCTA Considers Extending Term for Primary Schools After Strike Disruption

By Patrick Idowu

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), is considering extending the current third term academic calendar for public primary schools following a prolonged teachers’ strike that disrupted learning.

Public schools were shut down in March toward the end of the second term after teachers began an indefinite industrial action.

Now that schools have resumed, education officials say efforts are underway to recover lost academic time.

A senior official at the FCT Education Secretariat confirmed that discussions are ongoing to adjust the academic calendar.

“We are already discussing it, and the secretariat will meet with the NUT to come up with something helpful to pupils who’ve been out of school for months,” the source said.

The official stressed the urgency of supporting Primary Six pupils who risk missing out on Junior Secondary School (JSS), placements if the academic gap isn’t addressed.

Suleiman Hassan, Chairman of the FCT Universal Basic Education Board, also acknowledged the proposal, saying meetings with the FCT chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), are being arranged to develop a suitable strategy.

While no final decision has been made, the extension is being strongly considered to ensure pupils catch up before the school year ends.