FG approves gradual reopening of schools nationwide

The Federal Government on Thursday approved phased return of students to classrooms, and asked state government and school administrators to start making arrangements for full reopening of schools in the country.

Schools in the country were shut in March as part of measures to control the spread of the coronavirus disease.

But, the government had on August 4, announced the resumption of graduating pupils to write this year’s West African Senior School Certificate Examination from August 17, 2020, through September 12, 2020.

The National Coordinator of the Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19, Dr Sani Aliyu, who spoke during a briefing at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja, said the task force recommends phased return of students to classrooms.

“For educational institutions which include daycare, primary, secondary and tertiary institutions. Educational institutions should begin the process of working towards potentially reopening within this phase.

“However, we strongly recommend that states conduct risk assessment to ensure all schools are at a level of compliance and create a monitoring mechanism to assess, create, and monitor this level of preparedness.

“Meanwhile, all daycares and educational institutions are to remain closed to in-classes until this level of risk is assessed. And if there will be opening of schools, it must be staged and preferably carried out in phases to ensure that this does not pose a risk to the general public and in particular to vulnerable groups that might end up getting infected by students going back home.”