The Rainbow
The Federal Government on Thursdays sanctioned reopening of schools and the orientation camps of the National Youths Service Corps nationwide.
The position of the government was announced by the National Coordinator of the Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19, Dr Sani Aliyu, during a briefing at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja.
According to Aliyu, the PTF recommends phased return of students and states take all necessary precautionary measures to ensure that schools conform to protocols for the safety of students.
He said, “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 a 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.”
As per the national youth service, Aliyu said the task force was in the process of developing “strict guidelines” to forestall the outbreak of infections when NYSC camps reopen.
“For the National Youth Service Corps, the NYSC is to consolidate on safety measures currently being put in place and start preparing for the reopening of orientation camps when educational institutions open, the PTF coordinator said.
“We are in the process of developing strict guidelines to ensure there is no outbreak of Covid-19 when this process starts.”
The NYSC Director-General, Brig. General Shuaibu Ibrahim, was quoted as saying that the scheme had embarked on measures to enable safe and efficient conduct of its operations as soon as FG approved the reopening of its camps.
“Conscious of the possibility of the further or complete lifting of lockdown, the strategies mapped out by the NYSC management had taken care of various scenarios and would be presented to the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 through the Nigeria Centre for Disease Centre for guidance,” Ibrahim had said.
The Rainbow learnt that most private tertiary institutions of learning and private secondary and primary schools in major cities like Lagos and Abuja have long been working on the safety protocols for returning students.
A Lagos Principal told our correspondent in confidence that her school had long been ready to receive students back. “we have of the recommended measures in place, and the return of the students in exit classes since early August has enabled out to test-run the system put in place.
“I can tell you that we are ready. And with God I believe we shall not have any problem.”
