… as Reps disagree with FG on stand against reopening
Sequel to the initial announcement by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 that schools could reopen in the second phase of the eased lockdown across Nigeria, stakeholders in the education sector have expressed concern over the safety of the students as well as the measures that should be put in place before resumption.
This is just as the Federal Government, through the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, reversed this position last week, saying that it was not safe to reopen schools now.
Isolation centres are filled up. Testing is only for the privileged, so why would any parent want to take a chance? Schools abroad that resumed have been forced to make a U-turn after many teachers and learners contracted the virus
The minister had also said the West African Examination Council could also dictate to Nigeria when schools should reopen, noting that it was better for students to lose a year than to risk their lives.
Owing to the PTF’s updated guidelines, state governments had issued statements on the resumption of students in transitional classes ( Primary 6, JSS 3 and SS3) in the next few weeks.
However, until the education minister reversed this position, many stakeholders, especially parents were not in support of this development, despite the fact that many had waited for the directive for long.
They were of the opinion that the country was not fully prepared for the resumption of students, as there seemed to be no serious measures in place for their resumption.
Speaking with our correspondent, a parent, Kayode Kolade, said schools should open but with the proposed facilities that would help contain the spread of the virus.
For Mrs Helen Essien, a parent and an educator, the government should not even open schools yet.
“Don’t open please. We haven’t even reached the peak in Nigeria, much less flattening the curve! The question these days is who is the World Health Organisation? They appear confused and are daily giving us conflicting information,” she said.
Most of the secondary schools in my local government are over populated. We have classes of over 200 students in each. These classes are expected to take only 60 to 80 from the initial plan. No toilet, no water, no drugs in the clinic
According to her, the masses are doubtful of the existence of COVID-19, hence the flouting of prescribed protocols.
“Too many reckless people out on the streets, thereby endangering others who are mindful and obedient. Isolation centres are filled up. Testing is only for the privileged, so why would any parent want to take a chance? Schools abroad that resumed have been forced to make a U-turn after many teachers and learners contracted the virus,” she argued.
She explained that the Federal Government had done nothing visible to assist schools become safe enough for resumption.
The parent said, “Most schools still have no running water. Most schools cannot maintain the supply of sanitisers for the use of staff and students. How, in God’s name, can they keep their restrooms sanitary enough against COVID-19? How can they ensure that outside the school premises, teachers and students are keeping safe enough to keep others out of danger?
“Are teachers going to be taken to and fro in official vehicles? I am sure no parent wants their child used as a pilot scheme for resumption of school for COVID-19 or part of the statistics of victims. I’d rather have my child miss a year of school than have a dead child and live with the everlasting pain and guilt thereafter.”
“Schools can reopen if measures are effectively put in place and obeyed but the question is, if schools are to fully open and given guidelines for preventive measures, how many schools can abide by them? Can Government even provide the basic things in the public schools?” Mrs. Juliana Ameso, another parent, said.
Mrs Oluwakemi Adefolalu, on her part, said before schools could reopen, all school proprietors and head teachers must have a meeting with representatives from the Ministries of Education and Health, stipulating all the guidelines that should be adhered to.
“All schools must adopt the same good practices in order to safeguard staff, students and parents,” she stated.
For Mrs. Adesanya Christiana, some standard private schools may be ready for resumption, but not any public school.
She said, “Most of the secondary schools in my local government are over populated. We have classes of over 200 students in each. These classes are expected to take only 60 to 80 from the initial plan. No toilet, no water, no drugs in the clinic.
“The school nurse is not readily available. If schools reopen under this condition and a single infected student comes to school and interacts with friends, what will happen in two weeks after resumption?”
According to her, the Federal Government should first do the needful by putting in place necessary things to ensure the safety of everyone.
But another parent, Mr. James Olofu, has a different argument.
For him, everyone just must learn to live with the virus.
“The alternative solution is all that is needed. For instance, these children we are talking about, their parents, elderly ones and siblings do go to public places like the markets; they relate with people, sometimes unprotected, and still come home to stay with their children. So, I am in support of the re-opening of schools,” he said.
A teacher, Mrs. Tonia Oyinye, said measures should be put in place for the safety of pupils and teachers.
She said, “Most schools are overly populated and don’t have space. If there’s an outbreak of chicken pox or conjunctivitis(Apollo), it spreads like wild fire until those affected are isolated because these children don’t know or understand what social distancing means.
“You see them going to play with an affected kid that is on isolation and is waiting for the parents to come and take him home. Schools should remain shut till we’re sure we can manage the situation without putting ourselves in danger in anyway.”
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education and Services said on Friday that it received with amazement the announcement by the Minister of Education that Nigerian students would not be participating in the forthcoming West African Senior School Certificate Examinations.
In a press statement signed by Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, Chairman, House Committee on Basic Education and Services, the lawmakers said the Education Minister did not state whether this was in agreement with other West African leaders or in consultation with the examination bodies, the state governments and other stakeholders in the education sector.
Ihonvbere said, “The Minister did not also inform the public if the decision was the outcome of a meeting with all State Governments that are in charge of all but the Unity Secondary Schools that are owned by the Federal Government.
“The Hon. Minister of State, in his usually consultative and participatory approach had briefed the nation at the Covid-19 Presidential Committee briefing, over the airwaves and in an appearance before the House Committee on Basic Education, where he assured Nigerians that all steps had or were being taken to ensure full compliance with all Covid 19 protocols.
“This sudden policy reversal is not good for the country. It is bound to create further confusion in the education sector, create disappointment and suspicion among parents, frustrate the students, and show to our development partners and Nigerians that the distortions and disarticulations in the sector are only getting worse.
“The reversal also shows that our policy makers may just be adopting a laid-back approach to the need to confront the novel coronavirus rather than taking proactive and creative steps to manage and contain it.
The statement added, “House Committee disagrees with the Honourable Minister and believes that a reconsideration is urgently needed to save our educational system on the following grounds that Nigeria is not the only country expected to write the examination in the midst of Covid 19, that Nigeria should insist that the examination be based exclusively on the already covered syllabus of schools.
“The Federal Ministry should not chicken out of its responsibilities but take charge, provide policy direction, engage the states and other stakeholders; that WAEC should quadruple its invigilators and use all classrooms and event centres to conduct the examination and comply with covid protocols.
“The Ministry of Science and Technology as well as the Ministries of Environment and Health should immediately work out an agenda to fumigate all classrooms, provide handwashing buckets with soap and water, and facemasks to all students; the original plan of opening hostels for boarding to facilitate so-called revision classes should be cancelled immediately and the students should come from home, write the paper and disperse immediately and Mr. President should direct all his Ministers to return to their states, work with the Governors and ensure the smooth implementation of the policy and conduct of the examination.”
The House Committee, while appreciating the reservations of the minister, noted, “We are parents just like him. No Nigerian parent would want to delay, distort, even terminate the progress of their child.We are convinced that if our policy of no boarding house, reconceptualising scope of exams, use of all classrooms and halls in the schools, quadrupling the number of invigilators, provision of facemasks, sanitizers and hand washing facilities are followed, the WASSCE can be conducted with ease and with no repercussions.
“Let us collectively save and advance our educational system and build a future we can be all proud of.”
