“After extensive consultations with relevant stakeholders,
including State Governors, Commissioners of Education, Proprietors and heads of
institutions, staff unions and students, the consensus of opinion is that the
resumption date of 18th January should remain,” the Federal Ministry of
Education said in a statement issued on Thursday by its Director, Press and
Public Relations, Ben Bem Goong.
The Ministry, however, explained that all schools and
parents must ensure strict compliance with COVID-19 protocols such as wearing
of face masks, social distancing among others.
“These measures which are to ensure safe reopening of
schools for academic activities will be subject to constant review as we urge
teachers, school administrators and other stakeholders to ensure strict
compliance,” the ministry added.
Earlier in the week, the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on
COVID-19 had hinted that it would review the resumption date (January 18, 2020)
for learning institutions in the country, citing the rising COVID-19 infections
in Africa’s most populous nation.
This had sparked fears among many Nigerians that school
resumption might be put on hold indefinitely even though many states in the
country had set dates for the reopening of the learning centres.
The Federal Government had on December 21st ordered the
closure of schools across the country until January 18, 2021, even though many
learning institutions had ended classes for the year and set resumption dates
for the first and second weeks of January 2021.
According to the Chairman of the PTF, Boss Mustapha, the
closure of the schools was to allow the COVID-19 prevention measures introduced
to take effect in the learning centres.
A Resurging Pandemic
In March 2020, the Nigerian government had ordered the
immediate closure of schools, just weeks after the country recorded its first
COVID-19 case. They were, however, reopened in October when the West African
nation’s infection rates began to decline. But the second wave of the pandemic,
a few months later, prompted authorities to shut down schools to forestall
further spread of the disease.
The second wave of the pandemic in Nigeria has seen more
persons contracting the disease and the nation surpassing the 100,000 case
landmark on January 11th. A total of 1,382 persons have so far died from
COVID-19 which was first reported on February 27th in Nigeria.
As of Wednesday, January 13, 2021, 103,999 cases of the
virus have been confirmed in Nigeria and 82,555 of them treated and discharged.
FULL STATEMENT
FEDERAL MINISTRY OF EDUCATION,
office of the director (press & PR)
PRESS STATEMENT
SCHOOL RESUMPTION DATE OF 18TH JANUARY 2021 STANDS MINISTER
Sequel to the hint given during the press 12 January 2021
for the review of the proposed resumption date of 18th January 2021, the
Federal Ministry of Education has undertaken a comprehensive appraisal of the
situation.
After extensive consultations with relevant stakeholders,
including State Governors, Commissioners of Education, Proprietors and heads of
institutions, staff unions and students, the consensus of opinion is that the
resumption date of 18th January should remain, while parents and respective
institutions must ensure full compliance with COVID-19 protocols including:-
(i) Compulsory wearing of Facemasks by all students,
teachers and workers in all schools
(ii) Temperature checks and hand washing facilities at
strategic locations in all schools
(iii) Ensuring constant supply of water and sanitizers
(iv) Enforcement of maintenance of social distancing and
suspension of large gatherings such as assembly and visiting days.
(v) Avoiding overcrowding, including limitations in class
sizes and hostel occupancy
(vi) Availability of functional health clinics with
facilities for isolation and transportation of suspected cases to medical
facilities
(vii) Adherence to all other non-pharmaceutical protocols,
restrictions and containment measures as may be prescribed/ approved by the PTF
from time to time.
These measures which are to ensure safe reopening of schools
for academic activities will be subject to constant review as we urge teachers,
school administrators and other stakeholders to ensure strict compliance.
Ben Bem Goong
Director, Press and Public Relations
14th January, 2021
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