Ahead of the reopening of schools and universities, the Federal Government has listed six conditions every learning institution in the country must meet before they can reopen for academic activities.
The Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, announced the conditions in Abuja at the 2020 Policy Meeting on Admissions to Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board(JAMB) today June 16.
Among the conditions is for schools to decontaminate their premises and also readjust their class sizes to accommodate social and physical distancing.
“While we Iook forward to easing the Iockdown which will ultimately lead to re-opening of our campuses, I urge all the Heads of Institutions not to wait till the announcement on reopening before putting in place all necessary measures in compliance with the protocols and advisories of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
All Institutions must have (1) Hand-washing facilities, (2) Body temperature checks (3) Body disinfectants at all entering points to their major facilities including the gates, hosteis, classes, offices, etc. (4) The whole premises of each institution must be decontaminated and (5) All efforts must be geared toward maintenance of the highest level of hygiene (6) Ensure Social] Physical Distancing in class sizes and meeting spaces.”Nwajiuba said
Speaking further, Nwajiuba said
“As a member of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, let me assure all compatriots that the Government is very much concerned about the long Iockdown of the nation’s education institutions in particular and the economy in general.
The Federal Government is doing everything possible to ensure that both lives and livelihood are given the top most priority that they deserve. We are aware that we must be alive to make a living while at the same time we are conscious that we must have a livelihood to stay a life.
The Presidential Task Force is working assiduously with facts and figures that mirror the reality of our current situation and circumstance. We are making use of them to respond to the challenges in such a way that we can limit and manage the negative effects of the Pandemic. ”
On March 19, 2020, the Federal government shut down all schools nationwide as part of measures to contain the spread of Coronavirus in the country.
