Education
Edo Govt Postpones Resumption Of School Until February 1
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.”
The Kano State Government has directed all private and voluntary schools in the state to strictly adhere to the 2024/25 school calendar issued by the Ministry of Education.
The Director of Special Duties, Ministry of Education, Mustapha Yahya, made this known in a statement on Thursday and obtained by PUNCH.
“All primary and post-primary schools in Kano state must close on Friday, February 28, 2025, and reopen on Sunday, April 6, 2025,” it reads.
The statement further warned that any school that fails to comply will face penalties. “Schools that fail to comply with this directive will face appropriate sanctions,” it stated.
He said the directive aligns with the state government’s policy under Governor Abba Yusuf to enhance teaching and learning while ensuring balanced and sustainable school operations.
“This measure is to ensure improved teaching and learning while promoting balanced and sustainable growth in schools across the state,” the statement added.
The Ministry of Education reaffirmed its commitment to providing high-quality education and enforcing adherence to the approved calendar.
The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa yesterday disclosed that President Bola Tinubu has approved the conversion of the Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) to a university.
He broke the good news to the management, staff and students of the 78-year-old institution during a working visit to YABATECH.
His words: “The rector said some minutes ago that the management, staff and students of the college have been praying and fasting that it be converted to a university. Somehow, you have kind of ambush me, but I must let you know that when I discussed the issue with President Bola Tinubu, he did not waste time in giving approval. I am just waiting for the memo and other necessary protocols from the appropriate quarters.
“This school is a legacy and with over 200 staff members holding doctorate degrees in various fields, it is more than ready and fit to become a university. All the credit about this should go to the President, who loves education and is concerned about giving the best to the youths, who are our future leaders.”
The education minister Alausa went round the institution to commission and inspect some ongoing projects, expressed satisfaction with the maintenance culture of the management that has kept the facilities in good shape despite their age.
He commended YABATECH management for pursuing excellence, adding, “we need innovation and investments in technology for development and I can assure you that the federal government will back you up.”
Alausa observed that one of the reasons the Tinubu administration is focusing on technical and vocational education as well as entrepreneurship is to stem the “Japa Syndrome” among the youths.
Said he: “We are not taking the issue of Artificial Intelligence, robotics, coding and others with levity. We know that if our youths are good at those things, they can be in Nigeria and be working for firms in many parts of the world and they will be earning foreign exchange. That will help stem this “Japa syndrome” of a thing, where people would travel abroad to do menial jobs.”
The minister said that for over three decades, Nigeria abandoned technical and vocational education and focused on producing graduates, who are always after white collar jobs and that now, the focus has changed.
“In Europe and other places, the focus has been on incorporating TVET to become a core aspect of their education system and that is what we are doing now. We need education that would aid manufacturing and technological innovations and that will also lead to a robust private sector which will drive societal growth and development, ” Alausa stated.
In his remarks, the Rector, Dr Ibraheem Abdul, said with over 200 PhD holders in its services, YABATECH was more than qualified to become a university.
He added: “While we are praying that we become a university, we don’t want to become just one of those universities. We want to be a university of Technical and Vocational Education that would bring innovation and also solve societal problems and challenges and contribute greatly to the advancement of our country. We have the manpower and we just need the support of the government in this regard,” the rector noted.
He highlighted various achievements recorded under his administration and vowed that the management would not relent in raising the stakes higher.
The Chairman, Governing Council, Prof. Funso Afolabi, lauded the education minister for the visit and appealed to him in supporting their demands.
“The bill that would state the change in status of YABATECH and the new name it would bear is expected to be sent to the National Assembly for passage and presidential assent,” Afolabi stated.
Federal Government has made a U-turn on the proposed scrapping of the Junior and senior secondary school system replacing it with 12 years compulsory education.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, told journalists at a press conference in Abuja, on Friday, that policy is at the proposal level and final decision has not been taken on the matter.
It was reported on Friday that the National Council of Education (NCE) has approved the scrapping of senior secondary system of education.
More details later..
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