After many controversies over the federal government’s decision not to open schools and allow graduating students to write their final examinations, respite seems to have appeared on the horizon following its capitulation, as latest reports disclosed that it would take decision on the openingof schools on July 27.
THE Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, said the government would consult with the four other countries under West Africa Examination Council, WAEC, to set a new date, while announcing COVID-19 mandatory guidelines for schools which must be kept before July 29.
THE mandatory guideline include hand-washing facilities, body temperature checks and body disinfectants at all points of entry to their schools including the gates, hostels, classes, offices among others.
THE entire premises of each school should be decontaminated and all efforts geared toward the maintenance of hygiene. The school’s authorities would also need to ensure social and physical distancing in classes and meeting places.
GOVERNMENT’S recent decision was a result of its consultation with major stakeholders in the education sector.Over 190 countries across the globe have closed their schools and universities to stop the spread of coronavirus. This has forced an estimated 1.5 billion learners to stay at home.
NO doubt, the effect of this pandemic on human societies is massive. Without a single gunshot, human activities globally have been brought to a halt. This is unprecedented. Consequently, we are gradually moving from the world we know, and transiting to a new world, the configuration of which we are yet to master.
THAT however does not mean that we should put the schools on lock even for students in their final classes. We recall that countries like South Africa, Cameroun and our next door neighbor, Ghana are coping with schools re-opening even during this pandemic period. Therefore what we should do is to study how they are coping and fashion our programme towards it.
INVESTIGATIONS have revealed that some countries that have re-opened schools for some set of such schools are opened for a sub set grades students. In most examples, there appears to be an effort to make available more classrooms to accommodate smaller class sizes. Countries like Belgium, Denmark, France, Greece, Norway, among others have re-opened schools only for younger children while others, Germany for instance, have re-opened only for older students, based on the belief that older students would be more amenable to comply with physical distancing and transmission control measures.
Most countries have instituted some combination of school-based measures intended to reduce transmission of COVID-19 among students and staff. These include the use of face masks while temperature checks at schools’ entries have been instituted.
We therefore commend the federal government for acceding to people’s reaction to open schools for the WASC students. We also advise that it should include the JSS3 and primary six students. They are students in final year classes. Our position is that with other students at home, there would be available classes for them to spread and maintain healthy social distancing in the schools.
NOT only that with the fumigation of the schools, use of nose mask and constant hand washing, infection rate in schools would be minimal if at all there would be incidences. We cannot afford to shut the schools on these set of students who are in their final year. What it means is that they would lose a whole year.
WE believe that if the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC could be contemplating holding elections in some states, nothing stops the students from writing the examination especially when not all students will be writing the examination.
NOW that the economy is gradually being reopened, our educational systems should not be left behind. Allowing the graduating students to write their examinations would be a good testing ground for gradual reopening of schools. We canvass that parents and government should form synergy to achieving this goal.
THE HOPE calls on the government to join other countries at intensifying efforts at getting a cure to the virus. It is heart warming that some countries have reached advanced stage at getting a cure. Nigeria as a country should not be found lacking in this drive.