By Bukola Olamona
Against the enthusiasm and calls by parents and students for schools to reopen, the Ondo state government has been advised to delay reopening of schools due to rising cases of COVID-19 in the state and Nigeria in general.
The State Chairman, Parents Teachers’ Association (PTA), Chief Abimbola Omoloja gave the advice while speaking in an exclusive interview with The Hope yesterday.
Omoloja noted that proper arrangement has not been made for social distancing to be observed among the students and also schools had not been fumigated.
“It is not conducive to reopen schools because all the students may not know how to comply with COVID 19 guidelines.
” If schools resume, the students will mix with themselves. We have to be very careful, it should therefore be postponed,” he stated.
He advised that schools should be fumigated, provision of water ,hand sanitizers and thermometer should be made before schools are reopened.
The PTA Chairman also assured that the association would make adequate provision to support the efforts of the government to curb the spread of the novel virus.
Also speaking on school reopening, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Rev Akin Asaniyan stated that the ministry has generated guidelines for schools to reopen so that they will not be caught unaware.
He said they are looking towards carrying all schools along including private schools and even illegal schools.
” We have to carry along the private schools and even the illegal schools, because if the anything happens there it will be a disaster” he stated.
Asaniyan observed that the welfare of students and pupils in the state is of Paramount importance to government at this point in time, saying that all the COVID 19 protocol will be followed to the latter.
He assured that the ministry is working round the clock to ensure that as government gives order to reopen, it will be an easy a stepping stone.
