Students in the Sekyere East District of the Ashanti region are reluctant to return to school after being introduced to commercial tricycle riding also known as 'Pragyia'.

The students, during the Covid-19 pandemic, took up the commercial tricycle riding business as a means of survival when schools were shut down as part of government's mitigation measures against the virus.

Following President Akufo-Addo's announcement yesterday January 3 on the reopening of schools this month, the students are caught between the two.

With a daily income of about GHS 70, the students are hoping to combine their Pragyia business with school.

"I don't make money going to school; I only go and study. So I have chosen a school close to me so I can combine this with schooling," said 16-year-old Alidu Yakubu, a JSS graduate of the Efigyase Islamic School.

In view of this and many other challenges, the Effiduase Education District Directorate has commenced a campaign to encourage students to return to school.

Speaking to JoyNews' Nana Yaw Gyimah, the Director in charge of Monitoring and Supervision, Frank Opoku explained that the Directorate has taken measures to ensure the students return to school.

“We have started what we call 'Back to School Campaign'. We have been sensitizing the parents and the children on the need for them to go to school.

“We fear some of them might become pregnant, there is a need for them to come to school," he said.

According to him, he is hopeful the campaign being run on local FM stations, churches, market places, gatherings and mosques, will educate the students to see the need of coming back to school.