COVID -19: FG Hints On Resumption Of Schools, NYSC Programmes

Th Federal Government has disclosed that educational institutions will likely reopen within this 3rd Phase of eased lockdown due to the COVID -19 pandemic. .

National Coordinator of the Covid-19 Presidential Task Force, Sani Aliyu, who disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja, said school reopening would be in stages.

“For educational institutions, which include day-care, primary, secondary and tertiary care.

“Educational institutions should begin the process of working towards potentially reopening within this phase.

“And if there will be reopening of schools, it must be staged and preferably carried out in phases to ensure that this does not pose a risk to the general public and in particular to vulnerable groups that might end up getting infected by students going back home,” he said.

THE WHISTLER had earlier reported that the Chairman of the task force, Boss Mustapha, had said that the phased lockdown had been extended by four weeks.

But, Aliyu stressed that sub-nationals would have to ensure that schools were safe for reopening.

“However, we strongly recommend that states conduct risk assessment to ensure all schools are at a level of compliance and create a monitoring mechanism to assess and monitor this level of compliance.

“Meanwhile, all day-care and educational institutions to remain closed to in-person classes until this level of risk is assessed”, he added.

Regarding the National Youth Service Corps, he said orientation activities would begin when schools resumed.

As such, he urged the NYSC management to finalise preparations before then.

He stated, “For the National Youth Service Corps, the NYSC is to consolidate on safety measures currently being put in place and start preparing for the reopening of orientation camps when educational institutions open.

“We are in the process of developing strict guidelines to ensure there is no outbreak of Covid-19 when this process starts.”