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Tag: Schools

  • COVID-19: Trump rejects expert’s warning on reopening schools, businesses in America

    COVID-19: Trump rejects expert’s warning on reopening schools, businesses in America

    U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday rejected a warning given by top infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci about the dangers of reopening the economy and schools too quickly.

    “To me it’s not an acceptable answer, especially when it comes to schools,” Trump said at the White House.

    He was responding to a reporter’s question on the issue.

    Fauci directs the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and is on the COVID-19 task force set up by Trump.

    He also warned in a virtual hearing with the Senate on Monday that a premature lifting of lockdowns could lead to additional outbreaks of the deadly coronavirus.

    So far, the virus has killed more than 82,000 people in the United States and brought the economy to its knees.

    Trump, in contrast, said the only thing that would be acceptable would be professors or teachers “over a certain age” not holding classes.

    “I think they ought to take it easy for another few weeks,” he added.

    Trump has made the strength of the economy central to his pitch for re-election in November.

    He has therefore encouraged states to reopen businesses and schools that were shuttered to halt the spread of the highly contagious respiratory disease.

    Fauci, 79, a proponent of the lockdowns, has become a target for criticism from the American far right and online conspiracy theorists since he made statements about the outbreak that were at odds with Trump’s.

    In April, Trump retweeted a call to fire Fauci, after the doctor said lives could have been saved if the country had shut down sooner, spurring speculation his days in the administration could be numbered.

    “Anthony is a good person, a very good person, I’ve disagreed with him,” Trump said in an interview earlier on Wednesday with Fox Business Network’s “Mornings with Maria,” repeating his refrain that the country must reopen.

    “We want to do it safely, but we also want to do it as quickly as possible. … We have to get it open. I totally disagree with him on schools,” Trump said.

    Asked about Trump’s comments, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio told CNN that Fauci was “sounding an honest voice of caution and I share his view.”

    “I think we have to be very careful about the steps we take.”

  • Lockdown relaxation: Presidency clears air on reopening of schools nationwide

    The Presidency has made clarifications on school resumption following the gradual relaxation of the lockdown.

    President Buhari had ordered a gradual relaxation of the lockdown starting from Monday next week but was silent on the reopening of schools.

    However, Buhari’s spokesperson, Femi Adesina while featuring on TVC, said schools may re-open for those about to take exams.

    Adesina said candidates about to take West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and other examinations may be allowed to go back to school.

    “If you look at Germany, they gradually reduced their lockdown by opening the schools for those who have exams.

    “Same may apply here as those who are to write WAEC and take examinations may be allowed to resume to take their exams.

    “The Presidential Task Force will be the ones to decide on when to re-open,” Adesina said on Tuesday.

  • Coronavirus: FG clears air on alleged November resumption for schools

    Coronavirus: FG clears air on alleged November resumption for schools

    The Federal Government has disowned a social media post, which stated that primary and secondary schools nationwide would be resuming by November 2020 as a result of the spread of coronavirus pandemic.

    The government also declared a manhunt for the author of the fake press release, which was circulating on the social media on Wednesday.

    In a statement in Abuja, the Director of Press, Federal Ministry of Education, Mr Ben Goong, urged Nigerians to disregard the fake notice, saying that the author was believed to be mentally unstable.

    Goong explained that the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, could not have signed a press release where the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Sonny Echono, granted an interview to a reporter from an online medium, as stated in the fake release.

    The ministry’s spokesman reiterated the release calling for schools to resume by November 2020 as a result of the pandemic spread was fake and should be disregarded.

    It reads: “The Federal Ministry of Education has disowned a press release circulating on multiple social media platforms insinuating that schools will reopen in November 2020, describing the release as the handiwork of an illiterate, who, going by the content of his release also appears to be mental.

    “The ministry is asking parents, students and the general public to disregard the release in its entirety, adding that there is no iota of truth about the release. Efforts are on to track the author, and he or she will be prosecuted.

    “We could have ignored the release but for the massive calls from our education correspondents, parents and other stakeholders expressing concerns.”

  • Coronavirus: Edo Government Shuts Down Schools

    Coronavirus: Edo Government Shuts Down Schools

    Following the upturn of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Nigeria, the Edo State Government has directed that all schools in the state, from primary to the tertiary institutions, be shut down with effect from Monday, March 23, 2020.

    Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie Esq., in a statement said, “While we enjoin citizens and residents not to panic, we call on them to adhere to recommended hygiene instructions on frequent handwashing and use of alcohol-based sanitizers as well as guidelines on social distancing.

    “Government’s Action Committee on COVID-19 would unveil the full response plan within the next 24 hours.”

     

     

     

  • Kaduna: El-Rufai bans religious gatherings, orders immediate closure of schools

    As part of measures to prevent the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19), Kaduna State Governorment has announced prohibition of mosques and church gathering of above 50 worshippers.

    The government also directed immediate closure of all schools from nursery to tertiary.

    A statement by the Special Adviser to Governor Nasir Ahmed El-Rufa’i on Media and Communication, Mr. Muyiwa Adekeye, said the governorment took a cue to stop Juma’at service from the decision of the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the cradle of Islam not to hold such prayers in the two Holy Mosques in Makkah and Madina.

    The statement, which also asked that Church gatherings should be avoided said, Pastors and congregants should learn from the experience of many Christian-majority countries like Italy, France and Germany to suspend church service.”

    “Public health expert advice is that large gatherings of more than 10 persons are not advisable at this point, and any assembly of more than 50 persons are therefore prohibited in Kaduna State until further notice.”

  • FG orders immediate closure of schools nationwide

    All schools in Nigeria–tertiary, secondary and primary have been ordered shut by the Nigerian government at state and Federal levels, to prevent the spread of coronavirus, with 12 cases now confirmed.

    The sweeping order came after some state governments had given a similar order.

    In Lagos and Kano, Nigeria’s most populous states, schools will be shut from 23 March.
    Governors in the north west region, including Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Jigawa, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara also resolved to shut schools from Monday.

    In Abuja, the Federal Capital, schools were ordered shut immediately. In Ondo, schools will be closed from Friday, 20 March.

    The Federal Ministry of Education had earlier ordered the closure of all the 104 Unity Schools in the country from March 26 as a proactive step aimed at preventing the spread of the dreaded Corona virus.

    The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Mr Sonny Echono who gave the order on behalf of the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, said all the Principals of the Unity Colleges should fast track the on-going second term examinations and close shop until further notice.

    The closure was announced in a statement by Mr Ben Goong Director, Press and Public Relations in Abuja, on Thursday.

    The Minister said the management of all the Unity Colleges should immediately activate the necessary emergency procedures and processes such as the provision of alcohol based sanitizers and hand washing facilities among others.

    He said that students should strictly adhere to the principles and best practices of good hygiene.

    He also directed the principals to immediately report any suspicious case to the nearest health authorities, emphasising that nothing should be taken for granted at this delicate time of the global pandemic.

    “We have directed all higher institutions to close this weekend. Unity Schools that have completed their exams are to close immediately.

    “Others are to hurry and close the latest on 26th March,” the statement by Goong read.

  • BREAKING: Lagos announces indefinite closure of public, private schools

    BREAKING: Lagos announces indefinite closure of public, private schools

    The Lagos State Government has announced the indefinite closure of all schools from Monday 23 March.

    In a statement on Wednesday night, government said it is closing down all public and private schools, as part of the measures to curb the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic.

    The closure of schools capped the various measures announced by the state after four more coronavirus cases were confirmed in the state, taking the state’s tally to seven.

    Government announced earlier the banning of all religious gathering of over 50 people, after consultation with stakeholders. The ban will be for four weeks.

    Then some of the leading private schools announced closure, without waiting for government instruction to do so.

    The schools include Greensprings School, which has branches in Anthony, Ikoyi and Awoyaya; and Lagos Preparatory and Secondary School, Ikoyi.

    Greensprings and LPSS shut down today.

    Both schools have opted for e-learning for pupils while they are at home.

    Greensprings School’s Head of Admissions, Mrs. Oluranti Bankole said: “Learning will now be done online using the virtual learning platform and video conferencing. She added that the school had adopted the WHO crisis management grid for COVID-19.

    In a notice to parents, LPSS said the closure was a result of the spread of the Coronavirus and the school’s international makeup.

    “Due to the global spread of the Coronavirus and the international makeup of the LPSS family, we have decided to close the school to children today, 18 March 2020. Whilst formal lessons have ended for the term, we are unable to predict how these events may affect Trinity (third) term and so, primary and secondary students will come home today with their notebooks.”

    Other schools like Berkely and Juilliard Schools and Chessington Montessori School, Agege, announced closures for Wednesday and Friday.

    Chessington informed parents that bills and report cards “will be sent electronically”, while Berkley and Juilliard Schools promised to offer “skeletal services” to stranded parents.

  • BREAKING: North-West Govs announce closure of schools over Coronavirus epidemic

    BREAKING: North-West Govs announce closure of schools over Coronavirus epidemic

    Governors in the north-west region have announced closure of all schools for the next 30 days.

    The Governors, in a communiqué read to newsmen by Chairman of the Forum and Katsina Governor, Aminu Masari, said the decision became imperative to prevent the spread of Corona Virus COVID 19 disease across the northwest.

    Katsina recorded its first suspected case of coronavirus on Wednesday.

    The Governors converged on Kaduna, alongside heads of security agencies in the zone to review security strategies and fight against banditry, before the case of the virus was reported in Kaduna Wednesday morning.

    Governor Masari said the closure will take effect from Monday 23rd of March 2020.

    He said the governors will meet with examination boards to discuss the development.

    They also advised the general public to avoid unnecessary gatherings, urging them as well to maintain good respiratory hygiene.

    Details shortly…

  • Facebook, Edo partner on online training for over 2,000 teachers, schools

    Facebook on Tuesday said it had partnered with the Edo Government to provide more access to online training for over 2,000 teachers and schools through its communication platform called ‘Workplace for Good’.

    Adaora Ikenze, Facebook’s Head of Public Policy for Anglophone West Africa, who made this known in a statement, said the company partnered with Edo as part of its ongoing commitment to building community and improving connectivity.

    She said that Workplace was Facebook’s communication platform, which transformed teams and organisations into connected, empowered and purposeful communities.

    Ikenze said the platform used familiar features like Live video calling, chat, feeds and Safety check to connect everyone and turn ideas into action.

    “In order to build on its Infrastructure and Connectivity projects for schools within the area, Facebook has also partnered with MainOne and Tizeti to provide fast, affordable, and reliable Internet through Facebook’s Express Wi-Fi programme.

    “The programme which started early 2019, now provides free connectivity for teachers in four schools within Edo,’’ she said.

    She noted that to further support the tech ecosystem, Facebook also invested in a meeting space in the South-South Innovation Hub for teacher training and local developer meet ups.

    Ikenze said the company was delighted to be pioneering such projects in Nigeria and across Africa.

    She noted that the partnership with Edo Government was a perfect example of how technology could positively impact education not only for students but teachers alike.

    “According to the Edo Basic Education Transformation Sector (Edo-BEST), one in five teachers do not receive relevant training to improve learning outcomes in their classrooms and that is why partnerships like this are critical in impacting positive change in classrooms,” she said.

    Adam Seldow, Director of Education Partnerships, at Facebook added that they were impressed to see that a number of partners had come together to help drive impact in the Edo programme including the Edo Government.

    “We are impressed to see our education partners re:Learn, and our infrastructure and connectivity partners MainOne and Tizeti coming together to impact in the Edo State programme.

    “We look forward to continuing our work in adding value to education in Edo State, with an additional 8,000 primary school teachers who will be added to this programme throughout 2020, but also further afield across Nigeria and Africa.”

    “Due to its current success, the Edo State Government has committed additional budget to connect 100 new schools in the State by leveraging on the fiber investments and Express Wi-Fi, ensuring that over 15,000 students and teachers will have continued internet access,” Seldow said

    Dr Joan Oviawe, Chairperson of the Edo State Universal Basic Education Board said the support from Facebook would assist the state government in preparing pupils to compete with their contemporaries not only in Nigeria, but across Africa.

    “We have to prepare the Edo child for a competitive world; a world without boundaries where they can build valuable skills for the future, using technology,’’ Oviawe said.

    The Chief Executive Officer of MainOne, Mrs Funke Opeke, said her company was committed to bridging the digital divide across Nigeria through continued investment in infrastructure that contributed to the growth of local economies.

    She commended the Edo Government for its commitment to empowering the next generation of digitally-enabled youths and teachers to transform education in the state.

  • Insecurity: Schools, worship centres in Kaduna to resume lugagge checks

    The Kaduna State Police Command has advised schools, worship centers, markets, motor parks and other public places to resume checks on luggage at their entrance points.

    The advice followed the arrest of a suspected suicide bomber, Nathaniel Samuel, at Living Faith Church Sabon Tasha, Kaduna on Sunday.
    The suspect was intercepted while the Church service was in session with some suspected Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) contained in a bag.
    The Command Public Relations officer, DSP Yakubu Sabo, in a press statement, said the measure was necessary to prevent any security breach.
    He said that the Commissioner of Police, Umar Muri had directed all police officers to intensify surveillance and to liaise with stakeholders within their respective jurisdictions to ensure collective vigilance.
    He assured the people of adequate security, through proactive measures adopted by the Command recently.