Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, on Wednesday dashed the hopes of Nigerians who are expecting that schools in the country would open soon.
The Minister spoke to State House correspondents after the virtual meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in Abuja on Wednesday,
Adamu debunked earlier reports that graduating classes would be allowed back to school in August to prepare for their exams, saying emphatically that Nigerian schools will not reopen any time soon until it is safe to do so because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to Adamu, final year students preparing for the Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE) will not be allowed to return to school contrary to what had earlier been believed.
He said that the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) cannot determine the resumption date of schools for Nigeria.
For him, it would be preferred that Nigerian students lose an academic year than to expose them to dangers.
He appealed to States that have announced the resumption of school in their states to reconsider their position so as not to jeopardize the lives of the students, adding, “It is not safe to reopen school, ” he said.
Despite the easening of lockdown measures, Nigerian government has been reluctant to open schools.
Unfortunately, there is an apparent disconnect between the government’s serious measures and the how Nigerians are reacting to them.
Most Nigerians have since moved on with their lives with little attention paid to social distancing, regular washing of hands and wearing of masks.
