By Olubiyi Obasa
The Federal Government has finally okayed the full reopening of schools in the country after over five months of a compulsory shut-down occasioned by the coronavirus pandemic.
It would be recalled that following the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, the Federal Government had directed all state governments and school operators to shut down in a measure which was geared towards curbing the spread of the deadly pathogen.
However, in a bid to enable students in exit classes to participate in their various certificate examinations, the Federal Government announced the resumption of graduating pupils effective August 4, 2020, to write this year’s West African Senior School Certificate Examination from August 17, 2020, through September 12, 2020.
Speaking on Thursday, the National Coordinator of the Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19, Dr Sani Aliyu, during a briefing at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja, said the task force has mooted a phased return of educational activities.
He said, “For educational institutions which include daycare, primary, secondary and tertiary institutions. Educational institutions should begin the process of working towards potentially reopening within this phase.
Aliyu also said that the government recommends a thorough risk assessment across all states to ensure strict compliance with all recommended COVID-19 preventive protocols.
“However, we strongly recommend that states conduct risk assessment to ensure all schools are at a level of compliance and create a monitoring mechanism to assess, create, and monitor this level of preparedness.
“Meanwhile, all daycares and educational institutions are to remain closed to in-classes until this level of risk is assessed. And if there will be opening of schools, it must be staged and preferably carried out in phases to ensure that this does not pose a risk to the general public and in particular to vulnerable groups that might end up getting infected by students going back home.”
0 Comments