…as Agagu decry partial compliance in Akure

Kayode Olabanji,  Okitipupa

|Schools in Okitipupa, Headquarters of Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State resumed in strict compliance with COVID 19 protocols.
Students without nose masks were not allowed into the schools premises visited by our correspondent, while schools authorities provided for other precautionary materials like hand sanitizers, washing bowls among others.
Speaking with the Principal of Ofedepe Comprehensive High School in Okitipupa, Mrs Janet Oyepitan, said the school was in totally compliance with COVID 19 protocols. “As you can see, I am not supposed to be at the gate as the principal, but in order to monitor the level of compliance of both the pupils and the teachers I have to be here.”
She said: “Covid 19 is real, and prevention is better than cure they say, who knows who is carrying the disease but once you are wearing your nose mask, it would not spread to another person”.
Oyepitan, therefore appealed to parents and students, not to see governments and principals as wicked adding that all is for the safety of everybody.
She called on parents to endeavour to provide nose mask for their wards and charged students adhere strictly to the use.
The principal called on the state government to help the schools in providing them washing hand bowls and hand sanitizers to support the ones already provided by the school management.
Also at Stella Maris College, Okitipupa, students were seen wearing their nose masks. Some of them were with their personal hand sanitizers while one of the teachers stood at the gate with thermometer to test the temperature of the students.
The Principal, Mr Simon Akindutire said, “at least, I can say we comply strictly with COVID 19 precautions. Students, teachers, even visitors are not allowed into the school without the use of noise mask.
“Our challenge now is that we are short of man power. When you force it on them at the gate, the students removed it once you left. But, I have instructed teachers not to allow any student in the classroom without nose mask to partake in the teaching,” he said.
Akindutire added that every precautionary materials has been put in place for everyone to use.
One of the students at Ofedepe, who spoke with our reporter, Mary Chukwu, advised her colleagues who are not in the habit of using their nose mask appropriately to desist from such act, saying it is for their own safety and commended the state for reopening school.
Another student, who was among those locked outside the school for not complying with Covid-19 precautions, Asogbo Julianah, said she left her nose mask at home.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mr Femi Agagu has expressed dissatisfaction with the partial compliance with COVID 19 protocols in some schools in Akure and admonished school administrators to ensure strict adherence to precautionary measures.
Agagu who said this when he monitored resumption exercise in Akure noted that the monitoring exercise would be continuous noting that his team will continue to visit schools until all schools comply fully with COVID 19 rules.
The commissioner who said government was doing everything to make the school safe for staff and students urged parents and school authorities in the state to support government efforts at preventing the spread of the pandemic to schools.
Agagu said safety and healthy living of staff and students is critical to education development of the state and therefore the need for collaborative efforts of all stakeholders to ensure safety
Speaking to newsmen, the Principal of St Louis’ Girls Grammar School, Mrs Omobolanle Ayintete said the school had put in place all necessary materials to prevent COVID 19 infection in the school.
According to her, the school compound had been fumigated, running taps were provided at strategic locations , use of nose masks and sanitizer had been made mandatory for both staff and students while a committee led by one of the vice principals was set up to enforce total compliance with COVID 19 protocols