COVID-19: Lagos, Ogun, Nasarawa reopen schools

• Urge Strict Compliance With COVID-19 Safety Protocols
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has directed that all public and private schools in the state to resume for second term 2020 /2021 academic session from Monday, January 18.

Director General, Office of the Education Quality Assurance of the state Ministry of Education, Mrs. Abiola Seriki-Ayeni, in a statement yesterday, said Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo, therefore, urged all school managers to enforce strict compliance with all subsisting protocols to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the state.

Similarly, the Ogun State Government has directed all primary, secondary and Government Science and Technical Colleges across the state to resume academic activities on Monday.

Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, who gave the directive in a statement yesterday in Abeokuta, appealled to parents, guardians, teachers, school administrators and other stakeholders, to ensure full compliance with all COVID-19 protocols.

In the same vein, Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule has approved the reopening of all schools in the state from Monday, January. 18.

Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Hajiya Fatu Sabo, who disclosed this in a statement yesterday in Lafia, said the decision was reached after due consultation with relevant stakeholders and the Federal Government, adding that the ministry had put machinery on ground to ensure maximum compliance with the COVID-19 safety protocols, especially in public schools.

She added that proprietors of private schools were directed to put safety measures in place, while government would setup machinery to ensure compliance, adding that all returning students were to undergo temperature checks and observe other protocols before being allowed into their respective schools.

She stated that officials of the ministry would embark on monitoring visits to ensure adherence to the protocols and urged parents to provide facemasks for their children, as they would not be allow into their respective schools without it.

“What we are mostly concerned with is firstly, the safety of the students and staff. The schools were fumigated and safety equipment, such as hand sanitisers, facemasks were provided.

“We would also ensure physical distancing and regular hand washing,” she added.

The commissioner directed principals, head teachers and management of the various schools in the state to commence academic activities without delay.

Apart from other measures, the Lagos State Government said there would be compulsory temperature checks and hand washing facilities at strategic locations in all schools, which are to ensure constant supply of water and sanitizers and enforcement of maintenance of social distancing and suspension of large gatherings, such as assembly and visiting days.

The stakeholders meeting also called for avoidance of overcrowding, including limitations in class sizes and hostel occupancy; availability of functional health clinics with facilities for isolation and transportation of suspected cases to medical facilities; adherence to all other non-pharmaceutical protocols, restrictions and containment measures, as may be prescribed/approved by the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 from time to time.

Arigbabu said it is compulsory for all learners, teachers and non-teaching staff to wear facemasks at all times, as well as the use of infrared thermometer for temperature check, saying regular washing of hands with soap and water, use of hand sanitisers, observing social and physical distancing, should be maintained, while discouraging large gatherings such as assembly.

He also instructed that isolation rooms, health clinic/bay already created should be functional and regularly maintained.