The Federal Government has released guidelines for the safe reopening of schools after COVID-19 pandemic closures but have not disclosed when schools will resume.
The guidelines released on Monday by the Federal Ministry of Health and the Nigeria Center for Disease Control(NCDC) outlined actions, measures, and requirements needed for resumption.
The 52 paged document was signed by the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, and Minister of State (Education), Hon. Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba was developed in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Environment, Federal Ministry of Health, and health safety experts in the country.
The document showed that where the two-meter rule cannot be reasonably applied, other risk mitigation strategies may be adopted. ”Examples include early years, younger primary school children, and those with additional needs”.
“The scenarios require organising learners and children into small groups with consistent membership and compliance to the risk mitigation strategies. The membership of these groups should not change unless the NCDC public health guideline suggests otherwise,” the document reads in part.
The document also revealed that the government will conduct a rapid assessment and determine funding requirement for upgrading infrastructure and facilities to sustain prescribed safe school reopening requirements.
The document said it was time for the education sector to plan and address the eventual safe reopening of schools and learning facilities.
The document recommended what government called, “systematic, phased, safe reopening that factors resource availability to meet basic requirements and differentials in COVID-19 effect (e.g., fumigation and disinfection of schools; provision of learning material; impact and vulnerabilities across schools, learning facilities, communities, localities, local governments, and states).”
Speaking about the guidelines, the Minister for Education,Mallam Adamu Adamu said “Now is the time to plan and address the eventual safe reopening of schools and learning facilities. It will be recalled that at the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria, schools and all learning facilities were closed in order to safeguard the health and general wellbeing of our children, youths, teachers, and educational personnel.
On his part,the Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba stated that the Guidelines for Schools and Learning Facilities Reopening after COVID-19 Pandemic Closures is a strategy document developed to provide the necessary support to stakeholders for the safe reopening of schools and resumption of academic activities.
Mr Nwajiuba said the development of the guidelines involved a series of meetings, consultations, and deliberations with relevant groups, associations, and stakeholders on key areas of concern as the government plans to reopen schools and the best response strategies.
