Nigeria-Reps has oppose school resumption date, ask for 3 months extension

 

The lower legislative chamber has flawed FG’s directive on public and private schools’ January 18, 2021 resumption date.

The House of Representatives has moved against the Federal Government’s directive of  schools resuming on Monday, January 18, despite the rising of Covid-19.

The lower house, while expressing its concern, wondered why schools were closed when the infection rates were low and below 500, but now that it in a very high rate above 1000 infections daily, schools are being reopened.

This disclosure is contained in a statement titled,“School Resumption: Are We Truly Prepared?”which was issued by the Chairman, House Committee on Basic Education and Services, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, on Saturday, January 16, 2021.

Ihonvbere in his statement said that public enlightenment campaigns have more or less stopped, as merely saying that protocol would be adhered to is no guarantee with the situation even being worse in rural areas.

The house, therefore, demanded for the postponement of resumption of schools by 3 months, if some critical steps are not taken, so as to enable the local and state governments put things in place adequately.

He said that apart from Lagos and a couple of other states, governments have been unable to enforce Covid-19 protocols with people no longer wearing facemasks or use sanitisers, especially in secondary schools. There are no facilities for effective social distancing in the classrooms.