- Issues Fresh Guidelines
The Nigerian government has given the approval for all schools to reopen with effect from October 12.
The Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, communicated the decision to the Nigerian public at a news briefing, Friday.
Adamu said the decision was reached following the conviction that stakeholders and the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 were convinced that the COVID-19 pandemic had been sufficiently curtailed.
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Recall states and federal governments had ordered the closure of schools in March 2020 following the spread of the virus to Nigeria in February 2020.
While urging the school owners to be strict and rigid on COVID-19 protocols, Adamu warned that any school owner that does not comply with the guidelines and an outbreak occurs in the school as a result of negligence, such school would be closed down.
“Be vigilant, strict and rigid in the implementation of COVID-19 protocols for the safety of our children and ourselves as we reopen schools. Nothing should be taken for granted,” he said.
The Federal Government had earlier directed the National Universities Commission (NUC), National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) and National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to ensure that necessary arrangements were put in place for the reopening of tertiary institutions.
The federal government directed that all the 104 Unity Colleges should be reopened on the 12th of October, 2020.
He said: “Precisely on Wednesday 8′” July 2020, I had at a press briefing after the Federal Executive Council meeting, informed the nation that government will not reopen schools without adequate preparations.
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“I also indicated that until the curve of infection rate is flattened, it will be unsafe to reopen schools.
“Having taken that painful but necessary decision, the government has not rested on its oars in the areas of consultation with stakeholders, putting together guidelines for reopening of schools and preparations required of school owners to reopen.
“We have consulted widely with stakeholders in the sector, including the Association of Private School Owners of Nigeria, (APSON), National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, (NAPPS), Provost of Colleges of Education, Rectors of Polytechnics, Vice-Chancellors of Universities, State Governors, our development partners, Honourable Commissioners of Education and relevant international organisations.
“Consequent upon these consultations, we developed detailed guidelines for reopening our learning facilities.
“Taking the first step, we reopened schools for exit classes to take their National Examinations.
“I am glad to report that in all our 104 Unity Colleges, there has not been a single case of COVlD-l9 infection so far.
“The isolated cases we have had in other schools are minimal. It is gratifying to note that on the whole, there has not been a single fatality amongst the exiting students.
“You may also have noticed that the infection curve nationwide has flattened considerably.
“In July 2020 when I stated that we will not reopen schools until the infection curve flattens, the country was recording an average of 400 infections daily.
“By the end of July and August, the infection rate peaked at an average of 700 cases daily.
“Since the beginning of September 2020, we have witnessed a considerable decline in the rate of infections now averaging 200 recorded cases daily.”
“Consequently, with the level of preparations put to test and the flattening of the infection curve, we have come to the conclusion that we have to review our earlier decision especially against the realization that COVlD-l9 has come to stay and that we have to live with it,” he said.
Adamu further noted that States and private school owners would work out the modalities for the opening of schools under their purview.
He urged school owners to put in place for safe distancing procedures as well as develop and display at schools, simple context-specific reference protocols on a day to day actions to be operated in each school.
The Minister asked school owners to conduct a risk assessment with a view to understanding the gaps in the system that can increase the risk of transmission and make recommendations for addressing the gaps.
He listed other precautionary measures to include, safety and hygiene in all stages and phases of the school reopening process which promote behaviours that reduce spread, such as school commutes (to and from school travelling), safe distancing, frequent hand washing and the use of facemasks.
Speaking further on other guiding frameworks, the Minister said adequate sensitization and monitoring procedures must be in place in schools, including adequate Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities within school premises.
More so, Adamu urged institutions to encourage the use of open spaces for gathering and promoting outdoor activities as well as regular temperature checks for all the visitors coming into the schools using infrared thermometers.
