Edo Govt Postpones Resumption Of School Until February 1

The Edo State government has postponed the resumption of all primary and secondary schools in the state to Monday, February 1, 2021.

Gov. Godwin Obaseki disclosed this on Friday at a press briefing in Benin City.

He stressed that the state government will officially carry out an assessment of health facilities across the various schools and ensure strict compliance with COVID-19 protocol.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has been warned against reopening of schools in the country.

Olusegun Bamgbose, Esq., National Coordinator, Concerned Advocates for Good Governance, CAGG, gave the warning on Thursday citing the increase in confirmed cases of COVID-19 infections in the country.

He urged the Federal Government to be extremely cautious in view of the spike and upsurge of the pandemic in recent weeks.

He noted that the new variant of the virus is no doubt causing a lot of havoc in the country.

“Yes, our students should go back to school and learn, but we don’t want to lose them to COVID-19 pandemic,” he said during a chat with DAILY POST.

“It’s only the living that can learn. Caution is the key word. The government should not just bow to pressure from the parents and stakeholders in education, at the expense of the lives of our students.

“I believe parents will prefer their wards lose one month of learning than lose the child entirely. Schools cannot be closed down indefinitely, but certain measures must be put in place to ensure that our students are safe.

“One would have advised that the university students be allowed to resume first, not necessarily because they have stayed at home for a while, but because most of them are adults and they can easily take some precautions more than those in primary and secondary schools.

“The parents equally have a role to play in ensuring their wards are safe. May the Lord keep us safe till we witness the end of this deadly pandemic.”

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has finally decided to go ahead with the January 18, 2021 resumption date for schools nationwide.

This is despite the pressure being mounted by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other stakeholders that school should remain shut amid the second wave of the pandemic.

On Monday, the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, during the press briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 on Monday said the January 18 resumption date was not sacrosanct.

However, in a statement signed by the Director, Press and Public Relations, Bem Goong, Adamu explained that the decision to maintain the resumption date was the aftermath of “extensive consultations with relevant stakeholders, including state governors, commissioners of education, proprietors and heads of institutions, staff unions and students”, respectively.

The Minister, however, urged parents and respective institutions to ensure full compliance with COVID-19 protocols.

The statement read in full: “Sequel to the hint given during the press briefing on 12 January 2021 for the review of the proposed resumption date of 18th January 2021, the Federal Ministry of Education has undertaken a comprehensive appraisal of the situation.

“After extensive consultations with relevant stakeholders, including State Governors, Commissioners of Education, Proprietors and heads of institutions, staff unions and students, the consensus of opinion is that the resumption date of 18th January should remain, while parents and respective institutions must ensure full compliance with COVID-19 protocols including:- (i) Compulsory wearing of Facemasks by all students, teachers and workers in all schools (ii) Temperature checks and hand washing facilities at strategic locations in all schools (iii) Ensuring constant supply of water and sanitizers (iv) Enforcement of maintenance of social distancing and suspension of large gatherings such as assembly and visiting days. (v) Avoiding overcrowding, including limitations in class sizes and hostel occupancy (vi) Availability of functional health clinics with facilities for isolation and transportation of suspected cases to medical facilities (vii) Adherence to all other non-pharmaceutical protocols, restrictions and containment measures as may be prescribed/ approved by the PTF from time to time.

“These measures which are to ensure safe reopening of schools for academic activities will be subject to constant review as we urge teachers, school administrators and other stakeholders to ensure strict compliance.”