COVID-19: FG To Meet State Govts on Tuesday To Discuss School Resumption

Olaleye Aluko and Tobi Aworinde

The Federal Government will meet with states on Tuesday to discuss the modalities for the safe reopening of primary and secondary schools, Campusinfo has learnt.

Schools across the country have remained shut since March in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak in the country that has resulted in the infection of over 25,000.

The Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, had on Monday announced the resumption of schools, saying it was meant to allow pupils in graduating classes to resume preparation for examinations.

However, the Nigerian Medical Association and the Nigeria Union of Teachers argued that the move was not only badly thought out, but could also expose both teachers and pupils to the deadly infection.

Despite the directive of the Federal Government to reopen schools, much still hangs in the balance as state governments struggle to decide on dates to reopen schools.

The Edo State Commissioner for Education, Mr Jimoh Ijegbai, told Sunday PUNCH that the state had yet to conclude the modalities for schools resumption

He said, “I just got an invitation from the Minister of Education and we are meeting on Tuesday. The truth is that we have not drawn out the modalities for their resumption. I have sent a memo to Mr Governor. We need to buy infrared (thermometers). We need to fumigate all the school premises, get hand sanitisers and personal protective equipment for teachers.”

The Chairman, Katsina State Universal Basic Education Board, Lawan Buhari, said the state ran educational programmes on the state radio and television to enable the pupils to keep up with their curricula at home.

He, however, added that, as for the resumption date for terminal pupils in primary and secondary schools, “we have yet to decide on that.”

Similarly, the Osun State Government, on Friday, said no date had been picked for school resumption in the state.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Mr Jamiu Olawumi, however, told one of our correspondents that teachers would resume before pupils in terminal classes returned to schools

In Bauchi, the Commissioner for Education, Dr Aliyu Tilde, noted that the stae government was waiting for federal directives.

“Everything will depend on the guidelines provided by the Federal Government/NCDC (Nigeria Centre for Disease Control). All states are waiting,” he said in a text message.

Ogun State also said it would reopen schools for graduating pupils to sit their examinations but added that it had not agreed on the protocols.

Similarly, the Enugu State Government stated that it was putting all necessary safety measures in its schools before announcing a resumption day.

The state Commissioner for Education, Prof Uche Ezeh, said Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi “will make the appropriate announcement at the appropriate time.”

In the same vein, the Plateau State Commissioner for Secondary Education, Mrs Elizabeth Wapmuk, said the state government was still consulting with stakeholders on when schools in the state could reopen.

In Delta State, the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Patrick Ukah, also stated that the state was still meeting with stakeholders on schools resumption.

The Commissioner for Education in Gombe State, Dr Habu Dahiru, said efforts were underway to fumigate the schools for prompt resumption of pupils within the specified classes. He did not, however, give a specific date for the reopening.

The Niger State Government also noted that it was weighing the risk of reopening schools and putting in place sufficient plans

The Commissioner for Education, Hannatu Salihu, said, “We got a directive from (the state) government to conduct a stakeholders meeting, which is ongoing and it involves critical education and inter-sectoral stakeholders, including health, water, information, environment and all relevant partners.”