COVID-19:Ogun Gov.To Refund Test Charges To Parents,Apologizes

        

Ogun State Government is to refund money already paid by some parents for COVID-19 tests for their children.

The government had earlier made it mandatory for each boarding pupil in private schools to pay N25,000 part payment for the test.

Governor Dapo Abiodun, however, cancelled the test on Monday, after opposition and protests.

The governor also apologized for the stress that this earlier decision caused affected parents and pupils.

The Ogun government had stopped  COVID-19 test as a mandatory requirement for returning students in the exit class in Senior Secondary schools in the state.

Gov. Dapo Abiodun announced the reversal in a statement released to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abeokuta on Friday.

The government had on Sunday, through Mrs Ronke Soyombo, Special Assistant to the governor on Education, ordered schools in the state to reopen for students in the SS3 classes on Tuesday.

It had also insisted that the returning students had to undergo COVID-19 test before being admitted into the schools.

The government listed specific laboratory centres for the test which costs N50,000 and announced a 100 per cent subsidy for students in public schools and 50 per cent subsidy for students in the private schools.

The Governor on Monday, however, reversed the decision and cancelled the COVID-19 test as a mandatory requirement for the returning students.

He stated that the state had the highest number of secondary schools in the country with a total of 5,340 and 500 boarding students in private and public schools, respectively.

"After reviewing these developments, I have today immediately directed that the government laboratories carry out test for all returning SS3 boarding students at no cost..

"I have also directed that all those who have paid for tests be refunded.

"The health of our children remains our utmost priority.

“However, we have a total number of 5,340 boarding students in our private schools and 500 boarding students in our public schools.

"Our COVID-19 testing laboratory has an installed testing capacity of 500 tests per day.

"It may not, therefore, be feasible for all boarding students to get tested and get their results prior to resumption or even examinations which commences on August 17.

"Consequently the state government has, therefore, stepped down the COVID-19 test as a mandatory requirement for returning students in our exit classes.

"We, therefore, enjoin private school owners to their duty of care to their pupils

"The admittance of students into boarding house in private secondary schools will be at the discretion of the management and the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) of such private schools.

"We recommend that students who do not have to stay in the boarding house should attend school from home, especially those with underlying health conditions.

“I have also directed the provision of face masks for all students in both private and public schools.

"The inconvenience and confusion experienced on Sunday is highly regrettable and my sincere apologies to the parents and students so affected.

"The quality and standard of education and well being of our children are issues that are very dear to my heart.

"It is my prayer that this phase will end soonest,” he stated.