It’s not yet safe to reopen schools, FG, teachers say

Despite the call by the House of Representatives on President, Muhammadu Buhari to order a partial reopening of schools to allow pupils sit for the 2020 West African Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination, the federal government has said it doesn’t feel its safe to do so.

“We are still meeting with parents over that, we are not confident yet that everywhere is safe, the number of COVID-19 infections from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) are still very alarming and we have presented this to parents and all stakeholders in the education eco system, said Minister of State-Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba.

Nwajiuba said government’s position on the resumption of schools remains the same, as it is still meeting with stakeholders in the education sector, to chart the way forward.

“We are still meeting with them; in fact, there is a stakeholder meeting slated for Monday next week,” he said.

Nwajiuba said government’s position on the resumption of schools remains the same, as it is still meeting with stakeholders in the education sector, to chart the way forward.

He said the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) is also consulting and looking at a possible change of date for final year exams for secondary school leavers.

“WAEC on its own part is also negotiating with other West African countries to look at possible shift in date and once they are through with that meeting and hopefully when we are also through with the consultations, if there is any change in the ministry’s position, we will communicate.”

“We must rise above politics and focus on the reality and complexities of safely reopening schools, said Mrs. Comfort Ayorinde, a principal at secondary school in Lagos.

“If we open our schools too quickly and without adequate safety precautions, the result will be that some teachers, students, and their family members will contract the coronavirus. Some will recover, some will face debilitating health consequences or healthcare bills that they cannot pay, and some will die. These are stubborn facts. And they are costs and consequences that we must refuse to accept. A perfect solution does not exist. A safe one does.