COVID-19:FGN Reverses Own Earlier Decision on School Reopening,Says No date Soon
Mallam Adamu Adamu:Nigeria Minister Of Education |
The Federal Government yesterday stated that Nigerian schools will not reopen any time soon until it is safe to do so because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Federal Government also said that the West African Examinations Council, WAEC, does not have power to determine the resumption date of schools for Nigeria.
The Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu said this while briefing State House correspondents at the end of the 7th virtual Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Council Chamber, Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Mallam Adamu indicated that final year students preparing for the Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE) will not be allowed to go back to school contrary to what had earlier been spread around because it was not yet safe.
He appealed to states that have ann -ounced resumption of schools in their states to reconsider their position so as not to put the lives of the students at risk.
Recall that this year’s examination, administered by WAEC, was postponed indefinitely in April after it was earlier scheduled to commence in May because schools were closed down across the country in a move to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Recall Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, declared during a media briefing on Monday, July 6, 2020 that the exam will now take place between August 4 and September 5.
But commenting on the scheduled reopening of schools for academic activities, Adamu said:
"I don’t know whether you journalists are misquoting the Minister of State for Education or maybe quoting what WAEC said and made it into a story. Schools under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Education will not be opened on August 4 or anytime soon. Our schools will only open when we believe it’s safe for our children and that is when the situation is right, not when the incidence of the infect -ion is going up in the nation. I just want to make it clear."
" We will not open soon for examin -ation or for any reason, unless it is safe for our children. WAEC will not determine for us what we do. Schools will remain closed."
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