The Rainbow
The Federal Government on Monday released a comprehensive guidelines for the safe reopening of schools after COVID-19 pandemic closures.
The government like others all over the world had was forced by the dreadful virus to close most public institutions to stem the spread of the pandemic.
Schools in Nigeria have been closed since March and the government has been apprehensive about rushing to reopen them without proper guidelines even as the coronavirus infections have been on the uptick in the country.
The Federal Ministry of Education has published on its website the guidelines and outlined actions, measures, and requirements needed for the safe reopening of schools after the coronavirus pandemic is contained, which is meant to lives of students are not put to unusual risks when the schools resume.
Minister of Education, Mr Adamu Adamu, said in a 52-page communique he signed alongside Minister of State (Education), Hon. Chukwuemeka, that it is necessary to plan head how to safely reopen the schools and all learning facilities closed as a result of outbreak of the virus.
“Now is the time to plan and address the eventual safe reopening of schools and learning facilities. It will be recalled that at the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria, schools and all learning facilities were closed in order to safeguard the health and general wellbeing of our children, youths, teachers, and educational personnel, he said.
The document was developed in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Environment, Federal Ministry of Health, and health safety experts in the country.
According to Adamu, “As a responsible government, it is also our duty to provide comprehensive guidelines for a safe and hitch-free reopening of schools and learning facilities. We do so knowing that the health, safety, and security of learners, teachers, education personnel, and families are priorities”.
According to him, the Guidelines for Schools and Learning Facilities Reopening after COVID-19 Pandemic Closures outlines key strategies for implementing safe and efficient and equitable plans for school reopening and operations.
The minister explained that the document focuses on attendance, social distancing, hygiene, cleaning, and non-pharmaceutical interventions for safe and healthy school activities and programmes.
He said that given that COVID-19 may be with us for a while, the guidelines also highlight the urgent need to maintain and improve upon distance-learning programs, adding that the government’s aim is to identify and strengthen programs that will guarantee the recovery of learning gaps resulting from the pandemic.
Nwajiuba in his remarks highlighted the importance of developing the guidelines, he said is “is a strategy document developed to provide the necessary support to stakeholders for the safe reopening of schools and resumption of academic activities.”
According to Nwajiuba, the document is a product of a series of meetings, consultations, and deliberations with relevant groups, associations, and stakeholders on key areas of concern as the government plans to reopen schools and the best response strategies.
He said that in developing the strategy document, the ministry of Education that made efforts to ensure that all inputs and suggestions
from our development partners, donors, civil society organizations, and professional bodies were adequately reflected to address critical issues of health, safety, and quality education provision as schools get ready to reopen.
The ministry had earlier fixed early August for the resume of schools for students in graduating classes to enable take their exams and ensure they did not lose a whole academic session, but later changed its mind.
Last week, Adamu announced the withdrawal of Nigerian students from the West African School Certificate exams scheduled for August.
Many Nigerians including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and some lawmakers have condemned that decision, which some argue might produce the reverse of the original intentions.
Despite the guidelines, the government is not yet clear on when it intends to give all-clear for schools to resume.
