On the resumption of schools amid the coronavirus pandemic, the Federal Government has rolled out conditions to be met before schools and learning institutions can be reopened in the country.
The Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, in the 36-page document titled: “Guidelines for schools and learning facilities reopening after COVID-19 pandemic closure” which was submitted to the Senate, described the conditions as key strategies for implementing safe, efficient, and equitable plans for school reopening and operations.
According to him; “Given that COVID-19 may be with us for a while, the guidelines also highlight the urgent need to maintain and improve upon distance learning programmes.”
He added that the guidelines were drafted in close coordination with health, environmental, education, and school safety experts who were tasked with the responsibility of charting a pathway for safely reopening schools and learning facilities for quality teaching and learning.
A part of the conditionalities is that schools must create immediate temporary COVID-19 isolation centre before they can be considered to reopen.
Also, schools are also mandated to ensure the establishment of a School COVID-19 Referral System including protocols and procedures to take if learners, teachers, administrators, and other education personnel become unwell while in schools.
It should be recalled that the Oyo state government has set July 6 as the resumption date for terminal classes.
Considering the guidelines mandating schools to have isolation centres, adequately equipped dispensaries, and clinics, the Oyo state government may have to postpone the said date for reopening of schools in the state.
