COVID-19: Schools Not Ready For Resumption-Reps

The House of Representatives has disclosed that, schools in the country are not ready for the planned resumption on January 18th as planned by the federal government.

Chairman, House Committee on Basic Education and Services, Professor Julius O. Ihonvbere disclosed this in a statement dated January 16th, 2020.

‘Extend resumption by three months’

The committee therefore called on federal government to extend the planned resumption of schools by three months until proper measures are put in place to tackle the spread of COVID-19 when the students resume.

He stated that “there is need for the postponement to enable local and state government to put things properly in place.

He added that, the committee was concerned on the increase rate of infection adding that, proper arrangements had not been made to safeguard children returning to schools.

“We are particularly concerned that when the infection rates hovered around 500 and under, schools were closed but now that it hovers well above 1000 infections daily, schools are being reopened.

“Why are we rushing to reopen schools without adequate verifiable and sustainable arrangements to protect and secure our children?

“Aside Lagos and a couple of other states, Governments are unable to enforce COVID-19 protocols. People no longer wear facemasks or use sanitizers. Public enlightenment campaigns have more or less stopped. Merely saying they would adhere to the protocols is no guarantee. In the rural areas, the situation is worse.

“Our position is that in spite of the very comprehensive protocols established by the Federal Ministry of Education, not up to 10 per cent of our educational institutions have implemented five per cent of the protocols.