Ahead of the re-opening of schools across the country, the Federal Government said on Thursday that it would soon announce measures for safe resumption by students.
The government said it is working on a model that would ensure that all the children do not return to their schools at the same time so as to enable physical and social distancing, and good sanitation in the schools.
The Minister of State for Education, Mr Emeka Nwajiuba, said the plan would entail adopting a two-shift system in schools with huge population and also allow those who would write exams to return earlier than others.
He spoke at the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 daily briefing in Abuja.
He described as fake news the reopening of schools on June 8.
PerSecondnews recalls that the government had on May 4 announced that it would commence the decontamination of schools across the country.
The Minister said: “Until we are sure that our children can go to school and return safely without taking COVID-19 home, we are not ready to take the risk of opening schools.”
According to Nwajiuba,the Federal Government will rely on the opinion of experts and the guidance of the World Health Organisation before announcing schools resumption dates.
He urged state governments and owners of private schools to plan ahead on how to ensure maximum safety for students and pupils ahead of the resumption plan.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and PTF Chairman, Mr Boss Mustapha, said all hands were on deck toward reopening of schools “at a safe time.”
While congratulating children in the country on the occasion of this year’s Children’s Day, he urged stakeholders to take steps that would aid the reopening.
Mustapha said, “I wish to inform Nigerians that the Federal Ministry of Education will roll out measures for the self-reopening of schools.
“The Presidential Task Force wishes to use the occasion of this celebration to congratulate our children and assure them, their parents and all stakeholders alike that all hands are on deck to reopen schools at a safe time.
“We, therefore, use this medium to urge states, local governments, proprietors and all other stakeholders to begin to take steps that will facilitate an early and safe reopening.
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