The Kaduna state government has today order closure of all schools across the 23 local governments following the surge in COVID-19 outbreak with effect from Wednesday 16 December 2020 to forestall further spread.
The announcement was made by the state Commissioner for Education, Dr Shehu Makarfi saying it was part of the government strategy to forestall the second wave of the pandemic.
The statement directed all schools across the 23 local Areas of the States to be shut down effectively wed 16, 2020 until further notice. The commissioner disclosed that it was necessary for the authorities to shut down schools to protect the children from contracting the disease as the pandemic seem to be on the increase in the last week.
According to the Makarfi, recent figures proved that the pandemic second wave was already with us, calling on parents to take responsibility to ensure that the pandemic is fought to a standstill. While the infection has cut across all age group, the commissioner said the state ministry of health has further confirmed that the second wave was more prevalent between those with 10-35 years of age and these are the dominant population in the Education sector, Makarfi said.
While issuing the statement, the commissioner said: “He is directing all public and private schools to conclude all necessary arrangements and close on Wednesday, 16th December 2020 as opposed to the initial closings.” He directed that all examination must be rounded up on Tuesday, 15th December 2020 across all institution of learning.
He further explained that by this directive, the higher institution is not exempted from stopping academic activities during the period of closure.
Meanwhile, Makarfi said In line with their contingency plan, the institutions can make an arrangement that would suit the protocol of the COVID-19 for teaching and learning in their individual schools to continue.
However, to minimise the impact on the learning process the commissioner said schools may still engage their students online for continuing with their activity as long as the school has the capacity to do so.
He said, “Learners in the basic, post-basic and secondary school levels could continue learning while at home from the Kaduna State TV and Radio e-Learning Programmes,” the statement noted.
