The Federal Government has on Thursday reaffirmed the January 18 school resumption date, clarifying the uncertainty over the proposed date. Mr. Adamu Adamu, Federal Minister of Education confirmed this during the daily press briefing by the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 in Abuja, saying the federal government’s decision to resume schools by Monday, however, the government may review the resumption date if the second wave of the pandemic persists. He said, “It (January 18 date of school reopening) is not sacrosanct. When we decided on that date, it was just a target towards what we were working on.
“Of course, we are keeping it in view and looking at what is happening in society and then it is supposed to be subject to constant review.”
Also, Ben Bem Goong, Director, Press and Public Relation, Federal Ministry of Education in a statement said the government alongside relevant stakeholders after extensive consultation has decided to maintain the resumption date, urging school administrators and teachers to adhere to strict COVID-19 protocols including compulsory temperature checks, wearing of facemasks, proper sanitization of school premises as well as hand washing.
“Schools should also ensure constant supply of water and sanitizers, enforce maintenance of social distancing and suspension of large gatherings such as assembly and visiting days and avoid overcrowding, including limitations in class sizes and hostel occupancy.
“Schools must ensure functional health clinics with facilities for isolation and transportation of suspected cases to medical facilities and adherence to all other non-pharmaceutical protocols, restrictions and containment measures as may be prescribed/ approved by the PTF from time to time,”
Meanwhile, the ministry said noted that the COVID-19 measures put in place are subject to constant review.
