Kogi State govt announces date for school resumption
The Kogi State Government has announced that educational institutions at all levels across the state will reopen on September 14, 2020.
This was disclosed by the State’s Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Hon. Wemi Jones, FCIB, who made the announcement at a press briefing on Tuesday in Lokoja.
The Commissioner also said that the state government came to the resolution after series of interactions with the relevant stakeholders and assessment of both private and public schools in the state to determine their level of preparedness and safety for reopening of schools following months of a compulsory shut-down occasioned by the coronavirus pandemic.
”You will recall that His Excellency, Gov. Yahaya Bello, had directed the closure of all schools from primary to tertiary institutions in the state from March 23rd, 2020, because of the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic.
“Subsequently, upon the directive of the Federal Ministry of Education, exit classes were opened for Primary 6, JSS3 and SS3 in Kogi on August 10, 2020, to particularly allow the SS3 classes to prepare and write the WAEC examination.
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”Therefore, upon further review having had several meetings with relevant stakeholders, His Excellency has directed that all schools in Kogi State should fully reopen on September 14, 2020, that is two weeks from today”, he said.
The Commissioner further emphasized that the state government came to the resolution to reopen its educational institutions following a careful assessment of the present state of affairs; moreso in view of the resumption of the certificate classes that has been managed commendably so far.
He said: ”we have not recorded any negative report as far as COVID-19 pandemic is concerned.
”Hence, His Excellency dimmed it fit for every school to open for full academic activities.
Mr. Jones further enjoined all figureheads and authorities of educational institutions to ensure strict compliance with the COVID-19 protocols which had been clearly set out by the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19.
”The ministry will review the state’s Academic Calendar accordingly to reflect on the new development, and the details would be worked out and released to the relevant stakeholders in due course before resumption.
”However, we encouraged that all relevant education stakeholders like ANCOPSS, ASSUS, SUBEB, NAPPS, Heads of Tertiary Institutions in Kogi State, NUT, STETSCOM and every other stakeholder are very free to liaise with us at the ministry for further clarification.
”We are equally informing the general public, parents, guardians, schools heads that we are very particular about the health and safety of our learners in Kogi State.
”So, the State Government will not stop at anything to ensure that our learners are kept in good condition as far as COVID-19 pandemic and indeed other diseases or health issues are concerned”, he said.
He implored everyone to remain proactive in the fight against COVID-19 by adhering to the recommendations of personal hygiene and coronavirus preventive practices.
”For the higher institutions, I have personally placed direct telephone calls to the heads of all state’s tertiary institutions and I had discussions with them to ascertain their level of preparedness. It appears that all of them are fully ready for schools’ reopening.
”We have equally asked them to get in touch with the ministry should there be any further requirements in order for them to make their institutions safe for the benefit of students and staff”, the Commissioner said.
