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Tag: Schools

  • Nigeria gives schools guidelines for reopening schools

    Nigeria gives schools guidelines for reopening schools

    Nigerian Government has directed school owners in the country to meet specific guidelines by 29 July, towards the reopening of schools, at a date to be announced later.

    The Minister of State for Education, Mr Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, gave the directive in a statement signed by Mr Ben Goong, the Director Information in the ministry, on Friday in Abuja.

    Nwajiuba said the ministry, having consulted widely with the Federal Ministry of Health, Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the Education in Emergencies Working Group, had developed and circulated guidelines for the reopening of schools.

    According to him, school owners are to prepare and comply with the guidelines.

    He said schools were to undertake self-assessment and send feedback to states ministries of education, not later than July 29.

    He added that consultations with relevant stakeholders would be held to review the situation and decide on a specific date for reopening or otherwise.

    The Minister also said that having taken the painful, but necessary decision not to reopen schools without preparations to ensure the safety of students and teachers, the ministry had continued consultations with stakeholders, and a mechanism to assess and monitor compliance would be put in place.

    “Since Tuesday last week, we have consulted widely with stakeholders in the sector, including commissioners of education in all the states of the federation and the Association of Private School Owners of Nigeria (APSON).

    “Others are the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools,(NAPPS), Provosts of colleges of education, rectors of polytechnics, vice chancellors of universities, some state governors, and development partners.

    Commenting on WAEC, which has already released a timetable for examinations, Nwajiuba said: “We met with WAEC on Monday, and have agreed to further consult with four other countries on a new examination date.

    “We appreciate the concern shown by all stakeholders and noted the divergent views expressed on the matter.”

    He assured Parents that the safety of students and teachers was paramount and that the ministry was working assiduously towards the speedy reopening of schools for the exit classes to sit for their examinations.

  • Delta Govt warns principals, others against reopening of schools

    Delta Govt warns principals, others against reopening of schools

    The Delta Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education has warned Chief Inspectors of Education (CIEs), Principals and Heads of Schools, to desist from sending wrong signals on reopening of schools in the state.

    The Commissioner in charge of the ministry, Mr Patrick Ukah, gave the warning on Thursday in a statement.

    Ukah spoke on the heels of insinuations in some quarters that the ministry had directed communities to clean up public schools within their jurisdictions or pay a certain amount of money.

    He said that any CIE, Principal or School Head, foisting the cleaning of schools on communities do not have the backing of the ministry.

    Ukah warned that those found to be involved in sending such misleading information would be sanctioned in accordance with extant rules of the state civil service and laws on the spread of fake news.

    “Government alone cannot do everything in the school system. The ministry’s Public Private Partnership unit is currently engaging relevant agencies, partners, organisations, philanthropists and well-meaning individuals to see how government’s efforts can be complemented.

    “The Federal Government recently released guidelines for the reopening of schools after COVID-19 pandemic closures and the ministry has commenced the harmonisation of the document with that of the state schools reopening strategy,” he said.

    The commissioner appealed to parents and the general public to be patient, saying the ministry was in consultations with both internal and external stakeholders, including relevant ministries.

    “The stakeholders include: All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Public Secondary Schools; Association of Primary School Heads of Nigeria; Private School Owners Association, and Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT).

    “Others are: Management of State Universal Basic Education Board and Post Primary Education Board with a view to building alignment on the strategies for school reopening,” he said.

    Ukah said that the ministry would also increase communication and advocacy with the Ministry of Information, Civil Society Groups and Delta Orientation Bureau as well as building synergy with School Based Management Committees (SBMC).

    He said: “We are also partnering with Advocacy and Mentoring Committees, Parents’ Teachers’ Associations (PTAs), Transport Unions, Traditional Rulers and Faith Based Organisations, including Christian and Muslim leaders, to help educate our students on social distancing.

    “It is pertinent to state that government is alive to its responsibility and is already ensuring that all schools are adequately provided with water and health facilities as demanded by the COVID-19 preventive protocols as we look forward to schools reopening soon.”

    Ukah said that as a responsible government, the health, safety, and security of learners, teachers and families were state government’s priorities.

    He said that the state government would guarantee the public, especially parents, of the safety of schools before, during and after COVID-19 pandemic.

  • WASSCE 2020: South West governors set to reopen schools

    WASSCE 2020: South West governors set to reopen schools

    The six South-West states have signified readiness to reopen schools for pupils to sit for the 2020 West African Senior School Certificate Examination amid the coronavirus pandemic.

    This was part of the resolutions reached by the state governments at the end of a virtual meeting initiated on Tuesday by the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria otherwise called DAWN Commission in collaboration with the forum of South-West education commissioners, special advisers on education and the State Universal Basic Education Board chairmen.

    The Federal Government had on July 8 reversed its earlier decision authorising schools’ reopening for Junior Secondary School 3 and Senior Secondary School 3 students, who are expected to participate in the Junior Secondary School Certificate and the Senior Secondary Certificate Examinations respectively.

    According to the statement made available to journalists, on Wednesday, by the Director-General of the Commission, Seye Oyeleye, the statement read in parts, “The Forum, after careful deliberations, considering peculiarities of each state and options available reached a consensus on the subject matters and are expresses thus: On WAEC examinations; State Commissioners for Education have signified readiness to sit students for the 2019/2020 WAEC examinations.

    “At the least, August 3rd, resumption for final year SSS3 students, states should approach the Federal Government at the first instance seeking the postponement of the WAEC exam by at least three weeks from proposed resumption. At the second instance states should directly approach WAEC to seek for an extension of the WAEC Examinations to week commencing August 24.

  • Delta Govt. clears air over controversy surrounding reopening of schools

    Delta Govt. clears air over controversy surrounding reopening of schools

    The Delta State Government has opened up over the controversy surrounding reopening of schools in the State, advising Deltans to disregard those who are posting fake dates for reopening of schools.

    The State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Chief Patrick Ukah, in a statement in Asaba on Monday, said once all modalities for the safe reopening of schools in the state are concluded, a date for the reopening will be announced officially.

    Chief Ukah assured parents and guardians of students and pupils that primary and secondary schools closed in the state due to the COVID-19 pandemic will soon be reopened, stressing that that the reopening will be in line with the directive of the federal government that only graduating classes, that is, primary six pupils, JS 111 and SS 111 students, who have external examinations, will resume classes.

    The Commissioner disclosed that a meeting has been scheduled for Tuesday between the federal and state governments to fine-tune modalities for the reopening of schools. He also disclosed that several meetings have been ongoing with critical stakeholders in the educational sector in the state, and that all are working towards the eventual reopening of schools.

    He said that the educational advancement of students and pupils in the state is of paramount importance to the state government, adding however that the necessary protocols to curtail the continued spread of the infection must be in place before schools will reopen.

    The commissioner advised students to continue to take advantage of the state government’s teleclass educational programmes on several radio and television stations in the state to update themselves in their academic studies.

    Chief Ukah advised Deltans to disregard those who are posting fake dates that schools will reopen in the state describing their action as not only unauthorized but meant to deceive members of the public.

    The Basic and Secondary Education Commissioner stated that once all modalities for the safe reopening of schools in the state are concluded, a date for the reopening will be announced officially.

  • COVID-19: Ogun schools, worship centres, others remain shut – Abiodun

    COVID-19: Ogun schools, worship centres, others remain shut – Abiodun

    The Ogun State Government on Friday set up a committee to fashion out guidelines for ”a safe reopening” of schools.

    The immediate objective is to ”allow certificate classes to resume and write their examinations,” although all schools remain shut for now, it said.

    It said available data and opinions of experts “continue to indicate that the fight against the virus is far from being won,” and therefore can “neither afford more fatalities or allow the rate of sickness to outnumber the capacity to manage the sick.”

    Governor Dapo Abiodun’s Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin ,said in a statement in Abeokuta that to date, 4,072 people have been tested out of which 898 were positive.

    Six hundred and nine of the cases have been successfully treated and discharged while 19 people have died,leaving 270 active cases.

    Government extended the current Phase of eased restrictions for another two weeks .

    In effect Monday to Friday are still open for businesses and other economic transactions with only Saturday and Sunday as lockdown days;

    • Commercial activities are not permitted on weekends
    • Churches and mosques activities will remain closed;
    • Observation of dusk-to-dawn curfew as directed by the Presidential Task Force (PTF) i.e. between 10.00pm and 4.00am daily;
    • Wearing of face masks in the public is still mandatory;
    • Only one passenger is still allowed for motorcycles and two passengers only for tricycles.
    • Taxi cabs and buses still have 60% limitation on their carrying capacity and the measure to arrest and impound any driver that contravenes this in our State is still in force;
    • The COVID-19 Task Force in markets must continue to ensure physical distancing, availability of hand washing facilities, and use of gloves and facemasks for traders;
    • Decontamination will continue in our markets and other public places;
    • Limitation of all gatherings to a maximum number of 20, is still in effect;
    • Gyms, event centres, cinemas, arcades, bars, casinos, nightclubs, swimming pools, barber-shops, spas, beauty Salons, and all public parks, including those in private residential estates, are still not allowed to operate;

    Restaurants are permitted to provide only take-away services and should also ensure that there are no more than 10-15 customers at a time with physical distancing measures in place. Guidelines for eat-in services are still being fine-tuned;

    All industries in Ogun State must continue to comply with the “Infection Prevention and Control Guidelines for Workplaces in Ogun State to Combat COVID-19” as issued by the Ministry of Health in conjunction with the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investments. Therefore, testing of staff for COVID-19 in all industries in the State must be sustained;

    The Task Force set up to conduct random spot checks on the premises of the industries, restaurants and other business enterprises to confirm compliance is still in operation.

    Other precautionary measures still in force in Ogun State are:

    Funerals and wedding gatherings should not be more than 20 persons, including family members and officiating ministers/priests;

    There will still be restriction on sports and recreational activities;

    Bank/Financial Institutions are to continue their normal operations as allowed in Phase two.

  • Again, ASUU kicks against re-opening of schools

    Again, ASUU kicks against re-opening of schools

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), on Thursday, implored the Federal Government to reconsider its decision on the proposed reopening of schools nationwide.

    The union expressed this concern amidst the increasing cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic across the country.

    Dr Dipo Akomolafe, the ASUU Chairman, of the Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology (OAUSTECH), Okitipupa, Ondo State, made the appeal in an interview on Thursday.

    According to him, the reopening of the schools was likely to make more children and teachers vulnerable to the disease.

    Mr Boss Mustapha, the Chairman, Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, had on June 29, announced the reopening of schools in a yet-to-be decided date for all pupils and students in the graduating classes.

    He said this was to enable such students prepare for their examinations.

    According to Akomolafe, most of the schools cannot meet up with the guidelines put in place for the reopening.

    He added that most of the pupils and students would want to embrace themselves, shake hands and ignore the use of face masks and social distancing.

    The don added that reopening of schools at this time, would also increase teachers responsibilities, as they would be left to handle their teaching jobs, as well as also monitor the students, to ensure adherence to precautionary measures.

    He further noted that, reopening the schools at this crucial time with the daily increase of the disease, was like making more children and teachers vunerable.

    “The Federal Government gave guidelines for reopening of schools recently, but how many of these schools can oblige to these guidelines?

    “Children may find it difficult to use the face masks, they cannot do without embracing themselves, shake hands with themselves and play together, all of which is against social distancing.

    “Teachers will also be charged with additional responsibilities of teaching, as well as monitoring the children to comply with the precautionary measures against the virus.

    “We are, therefore, calling on the Federal Government to reconsider its decisions on the matter, so that more alarming figures of casualties will not be recorded,” Akomolafe told NAN.

    The don, however, urged parents to enlighten their children more on the pandemic and ensure that schools complied with government’s guidelines before releasing their children for schools, should government insist on the reopening.

  • COVID-19: FG kicks over reopening of schools in Oyo

    COVID-19: FG kicks over reopening of schools in Oyo

    The Federal Government on Monday kicked against the reopening of schools in Oyo State amidst COVID-19 pandemic, describing such as insensitive to the health of the people.
    Mr Emeka Uwajiuba, Minister of State for Education, said this at the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 daily news conference in Abuja.
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State had earlier ordered the reopening of schools across the state.
    According to the minister, it is expedient to recognise the fact that Oyo State is a government operating under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a Federating unit.
    He noted that though the governor had the right to reopen school as he deemed fit, but added that the primary purpose of governance remained the security of its people.
    Uwajiuba said the Federal Government had over 138,000 schools across the country and for the governor to open the schools was in the very least insensitive.
    He, however, urged parents to, as a matter of urgency, keep their children and wards under lock and key, to forestall contacting the COVID-19 pandemic.
    The minister appealed to parents and guardians, whose children and wards would be writing the West African Examinations Council to bear with the government, pending when the necessary arrangements would be made.
    He noted that if there was anything the government could do to help in the present circumstances, it would not failed to act.
    Uwajiuba stated that the ministry had fixed a meeting with WAEC on how it would arrange the examination time for the exit year children, for revisions in their subjects, to be able to prepare well for their exams.
  • COVID-19: Reason why govt is not reopening schools yet – Minister

    COVID-19: Reason why govt is not reopening schools yet – Minister

    The Minister of State for Education, Mr Emeka Uwajiuba, on Monday said that no date had yet been fixed for the reopening of schools across the country.

    Uwajiuba said this at the Presidential Task Force Committee on COVID-19 daily news conference in Abuja.

    The minister said that the rumours making the rounds that schools would reopen on June 21 is fake and did not emanate from the ministry.

    He added that any news about the reopening of schools would be communicated through the PTF, adding that it was not possible to release a date without the input of the PTF.

    He said that the reopening of schools would involve the advice of experts on when it would be safer to reopen schools, stressing that government would avoid the mistake of “shipping the students in and out of school.”

    The minister said that the ministry would not lead Nigerians into danger because it was in a hurry to reopen schools, adding that it would only reopen them when it was convinced that it was safe to reopen schools across the country.

    “Of all the things I will love to do, is that l will not want to experiment with our children.

    “What we are planning is to bring those that will be exiting from Junior Secondary to Senior Secondary and those who will be writing the West African Examination Council (WAEC) to come for their examinations.

    ” We are, however, looking at when the inter-state lockdown will be reopened so that the students can move to their schools to write their exams , ” he said.

    He said that the ministry was studying the time-table to know when it would be convenient as soon as there was ease on inter-state lockdown.

    He urged students and parents to be wary of fake news peddlers.

    He said that once the ministry is convinced that it is convenient for the students to move to their schools to write their examinations , it would communicate the date to their parents and the public.

  • COVID-19: Delta Govt. speaks on resumption of schools

    COVID-19: Delta Govt. speaks on resumption of schools

    The Delta Government on Monday said necessary measures would be put in place before academic activities could resume in the State.

    The State Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, made this known at a media briefing held in Government House Annexe, Warri.

    Aniagwu said that government would among other things fumigate the schools before students resumed.

    “Schools might not resume in the next one week. We will put all measures in place before children will be allowed to resume academic activities.

    “We will fumigate the schools to ensure safety of our children. So schools might not resume in the next one week,” he said.

    The commissioner said that the state government had upscaled its healthcare facilities.

    He said that the state now had six isolation centres with two donated by corporate bodies.

    “We are not just upscaling our health facilities because of COVID-19, we are looking beyond the pandemic to the benefit of our people,” Aniagwu said.

    The commissioner said that amid the challenges of the global pandemic, the state government was still committed to building a stronger Delta through infrastructure development.

    He said that the state government was about to float a domestic security outfit codename ‘Operation Delta Hawks’ to complement the existing security apparatus in the state.

    According to him, the security outfit would deal with domestic security issues in the state.

    The commissioner said that the state government was committed to regional security outfit.

    “Regional security outfit will deal with security issues across the region, while state security will deal with security issues within the state,” he said.

    Aniagwu, however, urged the people of the state to continue to support the government to enable it deliver on its promises.

    The commissioner was accompanied by Mr Olisa Ifeajika, Chief Press Secretary to Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa and some government aides.

  • Covid-19: PTF awaits Buhari’s approval on opening of schools, churches, mosques, others

    Covid-19: PTF awaits Buhari’s approval on opening of schools, churches, mosques, others

    The Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 on Sunday submitted parts of its recommendations on partial reopening of schools, places of worships and some additional businesses for possible consideration by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The Chairman of the PTF, who is also the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, made this known to State House correspondents at the end of a closed door meeting with President Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    According to Mustapha, the PTF has no problem with state governments that ordered reopening of places of worships in view of the power given to the states to do so by the constitution, adding that the states are sub-nationals.

    He said: “That’s part of what we have considered in its totality.

    “We will await Mr. President on that.

    “Once I receive his approval, going forward, to certain recommendations we have put in place, we will know how that would happen.

    “The issue of easing up, you know we are in the first phase.

    “We had an extension of two weeks for the first phase.

    “The next phase should be the second phase and along with that will come in a lot of recommendations, which we expect Mr. President to consider.

    “So, the issues of places of worships, the issues of schools, the issues of some certain businesses that were not opened hitherto are part of the packages that we have looked at.

    “We have made the appropriate recommendations, but you know that Mr. President is the only one that can take decisions in respect of that.

    “In the framework, the states are sub-nationals, they have their own responsibilities too.

    “So, it is in the exercise of those responsibilities that they had meetings with those religious bodies and agreed on the guidelines and protocols on how they open up, but in the framework of the national response, we are taking that into consideration.”

    On whether Nigeria is winning the fight against COVID-19, considering the rate of infections, Mustapha said: “We are winning.

    “As a matter of fact, you juxtapose the rate of cases with our fatality rate, which is basically about three per cent.

    “In other countries and other climes, it’s over 10 per cent.

    “But the most important thing that you will realise, when we started this exercise, we had only five testing stations, now we’ve ramped it up to 28, without the expected increase in the number of deaths.

    “We have gone beyond 60,000 now.

    “That reflects in the number of confirmed cases

    “We have not reached the peak yet and I won’t want to fool Nigerians by telling them that we are out of the woods.

    “No, we are not out of the woods.

    “As we even open up and accommodate more enterprises, because we are trying to have a balance between livelihoods and life, there’s a likelihood of increase in transmission and cases.”

    Mustapha assured that essential parts of the economy would continue opening up to boost socio-economic activities across the country.

    He said: “We have started.

    “Even in the first phase and the extension that came with it.

    “Essential parts of the economy was opening up by way of allowing agricultural production, people that produce fertilizers.

    “The oil and gas industry was never closed for one day and some aspects of the financial sector were opened.

    “After we receive Mr. President’s approval tonight or tomorrow morning, we will now know which segment of the economy he has allowed to open.”