![Official Schools Resumption Date 2020 [36 States Nationwide]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTAegQRy-qSFFeVVH4-nhdO4Ni3KtnpEfEm8zPjzw2BTZylT0iOOQko3mbrcgwJ1MoBE2trUEagC1p8toRy8c8JrpAz1qaF-Sqpf_ZyKNtZX-a6ROO4MFBKGip93xYrZor9j4XtV_UaZk/w320-h91-rw/School+Students.png "Schools Resumption")
COVID-19: See Official Resumption Dates for Nursery, Primary (Pri.), Secondary Schools (JSS & SS), Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education (COE's) in all the 36 States in Nigeria [Private and Public Schools and Institutions].
Are you seeking for the official resumption date of schools in Nigeria? well you are on the right page, we will keep you informed on the approved or official resumption dates of all schools namely: nursery, primary, secondary schools, universities, polytechnics, college of education and other institutions in Nigeria. If Yes, Bookmark this page and read till the end of the post below as we will be keeping you updated with the latest news on the Official Resumption Date of Schools in Nigeria.READ ALSO:
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LATEST UPDATE (22nd July, 2020): Oyo State Government Releases 2020/2021 Schools Academic Calendar, Cancels 3rd Term Resumption Date and Announces Dates of Examinations for Final Year Students (Pri.6, JSS3 & SS3).
The Oyo State Executive Council at its meeting today 21st of July 2020 has approved the academic calendar to guide resumption of schools and other associated educational activities in the State.
“According to the approved calendar, Third Term 2019/2020 session has been cancelled and promotion of students, for all affected classes, will now be determined by First and Second Term Continuous Assessment.
“Pry 6, JSS 3 and SSS 3 will proceed on holiday from 30th of July and resume for their Examination as follows;
“Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE)- 10th to 18th August 2020
“Competitive Entrance Examination into the Schools of Science- 19th August 2020
“Placement/Screening Test to JSS1- 20th August 2020
“Placement Test into Technical Colleges- 28th August 2020
“The SSS 3 will resume for their Examination as soon as WAEC announce the date.
“The 2020/21 academic session, according to the calendar approved by the State Council is as follows;
“First Term- 21th September to 18th December 2020
“Second Term- 11th January to 9th April 2021
“Third Term- 3rd May to 30th July 2021
“The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology enjoins all stakeholders and members of the public to take note of the details of the academic calendar.”
LATEST UPDATE (17th July, 2020):FG to Review the Decison on Schools Resumption Date, Agrees with 4 Countries to Consider New Date for 2020 WASSCE, Gives Proprietors July 29 Ultimatum to Meet Specific Guidelines.
The Federal Government has given school owners in the country up to July 29, 2020, to meet specific guidelines towards the reopening of schools at a date to be announced in due course.
This came as it had settled with four countries on a new date for the suspended West African Examinations Council, WAEC 2020 WASSCE.
Minister of State for Education, Hon. Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, who stated this, Friday, in Abuja, said the ministry, having consulted widely, has in collaboration with Federal Ministry of Health, Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, (NCDC), the Education in Emergencies Working Group, developed and circulated guidelines for the reopening of schools.
The minister, according to a statement, Friday, by the Director of Information in the Ministry, Bem Goong, “school owners are to prepare and comply with the guidelines.
“Nwajuiba said schools are to undertake self-assessment and send feedback to state ministries of education, not later than 29 July 2020, “the statement quoted him as saying.
He said consultations with relevant stakeholders will be held to review the situation and decide on a specific date for reopening or otherwise.
The minister further said, having taken the painful but necessary decision not to reopen schools without necessary preparations to ensure the safety of students and teachers, the Federal Ministry of Education has continued consultations with stakeholders, and a mechanism to assess and monitor compliance shall be put in place.
According to him, “Since Tuesday last week, we have consulted widely with stakeholders in the sector, including Commissioners of Education in all the states of the federation, the Association of Private School Owners of Nigeria,(APSON), National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools,(NAPPS), Provosts of Colleges of Education, Rectors of Polytechnics, Vice-Chancellors of universities, some state governors, and development partners.”
Commenting on WAEC, Nwajuiba said, “We met with WAEC on Monday and have agreed to further consult with four other countries on new examination date.”
“We appreciate the concern shown by all stakeholders and note the divergent views expressed on the matter.
“Parents should be rest assured that the safety of our students and teachers is paramount as we work assiduously towards the speedy reopening of our schools for the exit classes to take external examinations,” he added.
LATEST UPDATE (16th July, 2020): South West States (Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Oyo, Osun and Ekiti States) Fixes August 3rd, 2020 as Resumption Date for Final Year Students (Pri.6, JSS3 & SS3) Students, Seeks Postponement of WAEC Exams to August, 24th, 2020.
The Six Southwest States have agreed to reopen schools for SS3 students to participate in the West African School Certificate Examination (WASCE) scheduled for August 4th to September 5th.
Their decision is contrary to the position of most of the 19 northern states, which supported the Federal Government’s decision to suspend school reopening for SS3 students due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Federal Government had declared last week that Nigeria unity schools will not be participating in WASCE over safety concerns.
But at a virtual meeting by the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission, Commissioners, Special Advisers on Education and SUBEB chairmen reached an agreement to reopen schools for SS3 students to write their final examinations.
The meeting also agreed on the needs for Southwest states to implement a 2016 plan to establish a regional examination body akin to IJMB in the North.
The plan was laid out at the roundtable on creating a collaborative framework for education development and advancement in Western Nigeria in Osogbo, the Osun State capital in 2016.
A statement by the DAWN Commission indicated that all the states will reopen schools for SS3 students by August 3 with COVID-19 preventive measures in place.
The States are Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, Osun and Ekiti.
According to the statement, the states will approach the Federal Government, at the first instance, to seek postponement of the WASCE by at least three weeks from the proposed resumption date.
At the second instance, states are to directly approach the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to seek postponement of the examination to August 24.
On resumption, all schools are to appoint incident managers and classroom wardens, according to the document.
There will also be designation of quality assurance department for each state to issue a safety compliance certificate to each school before reopening.
The state will also encourage intensive advocacy campaigns to stakeholders including parents, teachers, caregivers, school owners and pupils on what is expected of them when schools resume.
The meeting also called on the WAEC to encourage Computer-Based Tests (CBT) in the future.
LATEST UPDATE (13th July, 2020): FG Releases Guidelines for Schools And Learning Facilities Reopening After Covid- 19 Pandemic Closes (Download in PDF)
![Official Schools Resumption Date 2020 [36 States Nationwide]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxiGbLxn-auFfNuhdCoLWuzUqU0znv3KAkFHM4dCd3iQf0fgOn7WnP1rgG8Mn0Vteg-rks2z1L6oByCaJmMQUSd5tF-yT8KjTkUSPhq0bhFNRx5FUixBij1i0gvQiPtFoiowEmNsby7xg/s640-rw/FG+Guidelines+on+Schools+Resumption.png "Official Schools Resumption Date 2020 [36 States Nationwide]")
The development and issuance of these guidelines for the safe reopening of schools and learning facilities is a consultative and collaborative initiative of the Federal Ministry of Education, Education in Emergencies Working Group in Nigeria (EiEWGN), Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Federal Ministry of Health, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), UNICEF, Save the Children International, Plan International, Street Child, Terre des Hommes, international development partners, donors, and the civil society, including teachers’ unions, parents, and community representatives. The goal is to support and facilitate prompt and safe achievement of the objectives of the Nigeria Education Sector COVID-19 Response Strategy. The guidelines will assist federal, state, and local governments and their relevant ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), families, communities, and authorities in decision-making, approach modeling, and operational planning for safely reopening schools, recovering pre-pandemic capacities, and institutionalizing
good safe school practices for the transformation of the education sector in the long term. The availability of these guidelines and implementation of its recommendations will ensure that all stakeholders within the educational system have a sense of their rights and responsibilities. In addition, this will help learners, teachers, parents, guardians, communities, and the larger society to trust the process of reopening and be assured that learning will continue in a safe and protective environment. This will also support governments in education reforms and effective service delivery during and post COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria.
The guidelines for the safe reopening of schools and learning facilities after the COVID-19 pandemic outline actions, measures, and requirements needed for
1. Ensuring adequate preparedness of schools and learning facilities for reopening and resumption of academic and other ancillary activities without placing the health, safety, and security of learners, teachers, administrators,
and other education personnel at risk;
2. A 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); and
3. Continued safe and quality teaching and learning activities by learners, teachers, and administrators that meet prescribed standards through remote and e-learning platforms with adequate safeguarding of their health, safety, and security during school shutdown period;
4. Entrenching and institutionalizing good practices in health, safety, and security in the nation’s education sector in the long term to strengthen systems and make them resilient against future similar occurrences. Click Here to Download Full Guidelines in PDF.
LATEST UPDATE (7th July, 2020): FG Reverses Decision to Re-open Schools for WAEC Examination.....FG Appeals to State to Reconsider on Resumption of Schools as WAEC Cannot Determine the Resumption of Schools.
The Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, who disclosed this to State House Correspondents on Wednesday after the seventh weekly virtual Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, also said there is no date for resumption of schools in the country yet.
He said he would prefer that Nigerian students lose an academic year than to expose them to dangers, appealing to state governments that had announced reopening of schools to reconsider their decision for the sake of the students’ safety.
Speaking on the effect the decision to keep schools closed could have on final year secondary school students, due to write the WAEC, Adamu said Nigeria would not open the schools yet, not even for the WAEC, which is a regionally control programme.
He, however debunked an earlier report, which claimed that the Minister of State for Education, Hon. Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, announced August 4, 2020, as resumption date for schools, saying the Minister was misquoted.
“I don’t know whether you journalists are misquoting the Minister of State for Education or maybe quoting what WAEC said and made it into a story. Schools under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Education will not be opened on August 4 or anytime soon.
“Our schools will only open when we believe it’s safe for our children and that is when the situation is right, not when the incidence of the infection is going up in the nation. I just want to make it clear.
“We will not open soon for examination or for any reason, unless it is safe for our children, even WAEC. WAEC will not determine for us what we do. Schools will remain closed.
“Yesterday we called on stakeholders who will tell us the situation and the way it should be done for it to be safe. While the meeting was going on, WAEC announced that they are starting examinations. Let’s see who they are going to start with.
“I will also like to use this position to ask those states that have already announced (reopening), I appeal to them. I think it is not safe. I feel responsible for all children, not just those who are in federal government controlled schools. Please let’s save our children from this.
“One infected child is enough to infect a whole class. When they close from class they go into the dormitory, this is not the right time to open schools. I appeal to the states that have already announced to reconsider it”, he said.
When asked if Nigeria will be the only country to miss out of the WAEC examinations, he said “me as Minister of Education, if I’m given the chance, I don’t mind Nigeria losing a whole school year than exposing our children to danger. WAEC is a parastatal of the Ministry of Education, they cannot determine for the government what it does”, he said.
What is your take on the new directives from the Federal Government? Air your views by using the comment box below.
LATEST UPDATE (6th July, 2020): FG Commences Disinfection / Decontamination of Schools Ahead of Resumption of Final Year (Primary 6, JSS3 and SS3) Students as from Tuesday 7th July, 2020.
The Federal Government has announced that the decontamination of schools against the spread of COVID-19 in preparation for the resumption of class activities will begin on Tuesday, July 7
The Minister of Environment, Muhammad Mahmood, disclosed this in Abuja at the briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19.
Mahmood also assured that it had enough hands on ground to carry out the disinfection exercise.
“Earlier I told you that we have sat with the Ministry of Education and we have the list of all the schools that need to be disinfected before resumption.
“Well, what we plan to do now is to do (decontaminate) the centres that will be used,” he stated.
Speaking on why the process was delayed, the minister said it was intentional, as the plan was to ensure that the chemicals were effective enough when the schools resume.
“The delay is because it is better to disinfect and decontaminate within a short period of time, so that the kids will be going back into these classes when they have been freshly decontaminated.
“This is because the chemicals we use are chemicals that are not long lasting; they have short contact time to do their job.
“So, we will be getting this done before Monday when they (school children) will be back to use these classes,” he said.
He assured parents that the schools would be safe for learning activities.
“So, it is between tomorrow (Tuesday) and the rest of the week. We have enough teams and people that we will be engaged to get that done.
“Be rest assured that your kids will be returning to a safe environment when they resume,” he said.
LATEST UPDATE (5th July, 2020): FG to Meet with Critical Stakeholders on 7th July to Finalize on the Resumption Date and Guidelines for all Final Year (Primary 6, JSS3 and SS3) Students Nationwide
The Federal Government will meet with states on Tuesday to discuss the modalities for the safe reopening of primary and secondary schools.
Schools across the country have remained shut since March in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak in the country that has resulted in the infection of over 25,000.
The Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, had on Monday announced the resumption of schools, saying it was meant to allow pupils in graduating classes to resume preparation for examinations.
However, the Nigerian Medical Association and the Nigeria Union of Teachers argued that the move was not only badly thought out, but could also expose both teachers and pupils to the deadly infection.
Despite the directive of the Federal Government to reopen schools, much still hangs in the balance as state governments struggle to decide on dates to reopen schools.
The Edo State Commissioner for Education, Mr Jimoh Ijegbai, told Sunday PUNCH that the state had yet to conclude the modalities for schools resumption.
He said, “I just got an invitation from the Minister of Education and we are meeting on Tuesday. The truth is that we have not drawn out the modalities for their resumption. I have sent a memo to Mr Governor. We need to buy infrared (thermometers). We need to fumigate all the school premises, get hand sanitisers and personal protective equipment for teachers.”
The Chairman, Katsina State Universal Basic Education Board, Lawan Buhari, said the state ran educational programmes on the state radio and television to enable the pupils to keep up with their curricula at home.
He, however, added that, as for the resumption date for terminal pupils in primary and secondary schools, “we have yet to decide on that.”
Similarly, the Osun State Government, on Friday, said no date had been picked for school resumption in the state.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Mr Jamiu Olawumi, however, told one of our correspondents that teachers would resume before pupils in terminal classes returned to schools.
In Bauchi, the Commissioner for Education, Dr Aliyu Tilde, noted that the stae government was waiting for federal directives.
“Everything will depend on the guidelines provided by the Federal Government/NCDC (Nigeria Centre for Disease Control). All states are waiting,” he said in a text message.
Ogun State also said it would reopen schools for graduating pupils to sit their examinations but added that it had not agreed on the protocols.
Similarly, the Enugu State Government stated that it was putting all necessary safety measures in its schools before announcing a resumption day.
The state Commissioner for Education, Prof Uche Ezeh, said Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi “will make the appropriate announcement at the appropriate time.”
In the same vein, the Plateau State Commissioner for Secondary Education, Mrs Elizabeth Wapmuk, said the state government was still consulting with stakeholders on when schools in the state could reopen.
In Delta State, the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Patrick Ukah, also stated that the state was still meeting with stakeholders on schools resumption.
The Commissioner for Education in Gombe State, Dr Habu Dahiru, said efforts were underway to fumigate the schools for prompt resumption of pupils within the specified classes. He did not, however, give a specific date for the reopening.
The Niger State Government also noted that it was weighing the risk of reopening schools and putting in place sufficient plans.
The Commissioner for Education, Hannatu Salihu, said, “We got a directive from (the state) government to conduct a stakeholders meeting, which is ongoing and it involves critical education and inter-sectoral stakeholders, including health, water, information, environment and all relevant partners.”
Also, the Taraba State Commissioner for Information and Reorientation, Danjuma Adamu, stressed that “though the Federal Government has directed the class of Primary 6, JSS3 and SS3 should reopen, the governor still reserves the right to set a date that is convenient for schools in the state to open.”
The Benue State Government had, on Wednesday, after the State Executive Council meeting announced a partial reopening of schools for graduating pupils.
However, the Commissioner for Education, Prof Dennis Ityavyav, told one of our correspondents that no date had been fixed for the state-wide resumption.
Kwara State Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Fatimah Ahmed, also stated that there was no directive yet as to when pupils in terminal classes would resume.
The Ebonyi State Government, similarly, said reopening schools for terminal pupils in the state at present was equal to endangering their lives.
In Cross River State, the Commissioner for Quality Education, Dr Godwin Amanke, was not available for comment when one of our correspondents visited his office. He also did not respond to calls and text messages.
However, an official in the state government who spoke on condition of anonymity said no date had been fixed for schools resumption, adding that a statement would be issued once the government had decided on it.
In Rivers State, the Commissioner for Education, Prof Kaniye Ebeku, noted that the state was ready for schools to reopen but that it was awaiting the appointed date from the Federal Ministry of Education for synergy with other states.
LATEST UPDATE (3rd July, 2020): No Official Date Yet for Schools Resumption Other than Final Year Students in Pri 6, JSS 3 & SS3.
The Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 has clarified the controversy surrounding the resumption of schools across the country.
According to the PTF Chairman, Mr Boss Mustapha, the Federal Government has yet to approve the resumption of schools.
This was disclose by Mustapha on Thursday in Abuja at the PTF briefing on COVID-19, days after the government said graduating students could resume classes in preparation for their examinations.
He said, ”For the avoidance of doubts, schools have not resumed. Only critical examination classes will be allowed to resume for those who need revision before examinations.
“As we have informed you, the Federal Ministry of Education will consult further with stakeholders before issuing guidelines that will lead to full resumption.”
“We appeal to Nigerians to continue to show understanding and to ensure that their wards take full advantage of electronic platforms provided for learning,” the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) added.
He reminded Nigerians that the PTF had announced some limited measures for the education sector, although he insisted that it was still not safe to reopen schools.
The PTF chairman explained that President Muhammadu Buhari approved the resumption for graduating students in order not to truncate their progression.
He said the President approved that arrangements be made for them to resume for those who needed revision before the commencement of examinations.
Mustapha, however, decried that this aspect of the President’s approval had been subjected to several interpretations and misinterpretations
LATEST UPDATE (2nd July, 2020): FG Gives Reasons for Resumption of Schools for Pri. 6, JSS 3 and SS 3 Students.
The Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, on Wednesday, said that the West Africa Examination Council, WAEC, timetable is not determined by Nigeria.
The PTF Coordinator, Dr. Sani Aliyu, while speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, stated that the Federal Government will not want a spill-over in the nation’s academic calendar which will end up affecting graduating students.
According to him, this is the main reason why schools will be reopened nationwide for graduating students with immediate effect.
He said “We already have a large number of students that are in their exit year and they really need to move on.
“We have exams that are not specific only to Nigeria but in West Africa, WAEC for instance.
So, we need to find a way to safely get these students to do their exams and exit, otherwise we will have a serious spill-over when it comes to education.
“COVID19 will go away eventually even though we don’t know when but It may take a year or longer, and what we don’t want is for it to have such a significant impact on our educational program where children are unable to move at home where there is no mobility.”
Recall that the PTF Chairman, Boss Mustapha, had on Monday, said that schools will be reopened nationwide for graduating students with immediate effect.
He explained that the measure was to allow the graduating classes prepare for their final examinations.
UPDATE 2 (1st July, 2020): We Can't Resume Schools, We Don't Want to Die - Teachers Tell FG.
The Nigerian Medical Association and the Nigeria Union of Teachers, on Tuesday, took a swipe at the Federal Government over its “safe reopening of schools”.
The apex organisations of medical doctors and teachers in the country told The Newsmen that the directive that graduating classes should resume was not only badly thought-out, but also could expose both teachers and pupils to the deadly coronavirus
the NMA president asked, “What is the compliance of the citizens in terms of regular hand-washing and other safety protocols? At the moment, many of the schools don’t even have water. Obviously, it becomes very difficult to say that schools should reopen because you have to wash your hands regularly.
Again, I don’t know how the teachers would be teaching with face masks and all the pupils will wear face masks. If you are not used to face masks, you may not breath well, particularly if the one you have is not standard.”
He also said it would be difficult to observe social distancing in crowded classrooms. Ujah stated, “I believe the government should think about it. If they can stay a little, people have to be alive to go to school and the way things are happening, the compliance level is still very low. I don’t think it is appropriate to open the schools now.”
Also, the NUT general secretary said government was not serious with his directive. He said teachers could not resume because nobody wanted to die.
He stated, “I don’t know who is going to use his own child as a guinea pig. It is only those who are alive that can speak of keeping hope alive. How can we resume? Does anybody want to die?”
Ene said if government wanted teachers to resume, they should be provided with necessary materials and incentives.
The NUT general secretary stated, “The NUT is saying that the government has not assured us properly to go back to school. Has the NCDC (Nigeria Centre for Disease Control) moved around to make sure that the isolation centres are provided in schools? What measures have they told us have been provided for teachers to come back?
We are being taken for granted. Teachers are parents and human beings too and their children don’t want to lose them out of carelessness. We are ready. We are not afraid to teach. But government has not shown commitment for us to go back to school. All what the government is doing is mere politics.
“When you talk of guidelines, we have passed the stage of talking without actions. I just read a text from a certain school asking my daughter who is going to take final exams to come back. They are demanding sanitisers, face marks and other consumables, thereby throwing back the burden to parents who have already been overstretched with feeding their children since they have been at home.
But government has reneged on what it should do. In a class of 60, 40 or 70 pupils, you’re talking of physical and social distancing. Can a teacher take a class from 8am to 2pm, 2pm to 5pm and 5pm to 10pm? What is the PPE that government has given to teachers?
“If a teacher is going to face many pupils in a class, and has no PPE, how will the teacher function or they expect him to use his meagre salary? I don’t know if government is aware that as of today so many states and local governments are owing teachers.”
The NMA President, Prof Innocent Ujah, who spoke to one of our correspondents in Jos, said that given the current low level of compliance by Nigerians with COVID-19 safety protocols, it was risky to ask pupils to resume.
The NUT General Secretary, Mike Ene, said government was playing politics with the directive. He wondered how teachers, who had not been paid salaries in some states, would get money to buy personal protective equipment.
UPDATE 1 (1st July, 2020): FG Dashes Hope of Tertiary Institutions, Says No Plan to Re-Open Tertiary Institutions Soon.
Hope of tertiary institution students returning to school soon was dashed on Tuesday, when the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 confirmed that there was no plan on ground yet for the reopening of tertiary institutions.
This was disclosed by the National Coordinator of PTF, Dr. Sani Aliyu, in a Ray Power radio interview,
He said: “Currently, there’s no plan to reopen tertiary institutions. Our plan at the moment is to ensure that we contain the spread of this disease and ensure that we are in the state where normal socioeconomic activities would be restored.
“We know that schools, together with restaurants, bars and other entrainment activities could encourage community transmission of the dreaded coronavirus, hence the reason why we were not in hurry to reopen them.
“But, however, we have taken pragmatic measures to ensure we do not loose a whole year in terms of primary to secondary school transition, hence the President’s approval for schools to reopen so that exiting students could return to school and write their examinations some of which are regional.
“Summarily, there is no plan to reopen tertiary institutions until we get to the top of the numbers, and also see clearly that we are making significant progress in terms of flattening the curve.”
LATEST UPDATE (29th June, 2020): FG Lifts Ban on Interstate Travels, Set to Re-Open Schools for Final Year Students (Pri. 6, JSS 3, SS3 & Final Year Students in Tertiary Institutions).
The Federal Government has just announced a partial lifting of the ban on interstate movement.
This was announced moments ago by the Chairman of the Presidential Taskforce PTF on Covid-19 and Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF, Mr Boss Mustapha at a briefing Monday in Abuja.
He said there will also be a safe re-opening of schools to allow graduating students back to classes, while interstate movements would only take place outside curfew hours.
Announcing the new measures, the SGF said; “I am pleased to inform you that Mr. President has carefully considered the 5th Interim Report of the PTF and has accordingly approved that, with the exception of some modifications to be expatiated upon later, the Phase Two of the eased lockdown be extended by another four weeks with effect from Tuesday, June 30, 2020 through Midnight of Monday, 27 July, 2020.
“Specifically, however, the following measures shall either remain in place or come into effect:
FG Briefs Senate on School Resumption on 23rd June, 2020.
The Federal Ministry of Education Tuesday briefed members of the Senate Committee on Basic and Secondary Education on its plans to reopen schools which have been shut as part of measures to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Vice Chairman of the Committee, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, who presided over the meeting, expressed the fears that the academic calendar could be distorted in public schools where no visible arrangement was being made to teach the children at home unlike their private schools counterparts.
She said public schools students were made to rely on educational programmes on radio and television stations whereas they tune to stations showing cartoons whenever there was no adult to guide them.
She said children in public schools don’t have access to online classes like their counterparts in the private schools.
She noted that the arrangement regarding radio and television stations was not working.
Eyakenyi said, “Even when the students in the cities have access to education programmes on radio and televisions, what of those in the villages? What do we do so that we don’t shut them out?
“If government can give guidelines for the reopening of churches and mosques, stakeholders in the education sector could also hold a meeting with the government to agree on guidelines for schools’ reopening.
“All we need to do is to come up with measures that would ensure the safety of both the students and their teachers.
“We can design a plan that would make sure that not all the students resume at the same time. We could probably start with the exit classes.
“We could have the numbers of students that would go to school in both the morning and afternoon sessions.
“We have to be innovative in our approach to save our educational sector in this country because nobody knows how long that the disease would be with.
What we have now is a proposal. Even if the Senate has not called us, we would have come to you to discuss with you because we have already discussed with the House of Representatives.
“The documents were presented to you so that you can criticise and make inputs as major stakeholders.”
The Federal Government has reacted to news circulating on the date for resumption of Schools following the ease of lockdown in the country.
Some news outlets had reported that the federal government had fixed July 20 as the date for the official resumption of schools across the country.
The ministry has however said for schools to resume academic activities, the school authorities must meet certain conditions which include:
All Institutions must have
(1) Hand-washing facilities,
(2) Body temperature checks
(3) Body disinfectants at all entering points to their major facilities including the gates, hostels, classes, offices, etc.
(4) The whole premises of each institution must be decontaminated and
(5) All efforts must be geared toward maintenance of the highest level of hygiene
(6) Ensure Social and Physical Distancing in class sizes and meeting spaces.”
The minister, however, warned against reopening of schools without the Federal Government’s authorization.
While we await the directive or official announcement of resumption of schools in Nigeria, you are advised to keep your self engaged with online lectures, do not fall prey to fake news circulating online on the official school resumption date as they are false and did not come from the ministry of education.
We will keep you updated on this page once an official date has been disclosed for schools resumption in Nigeria by the Federal Ministry of Education.
Please remember to stay safe! Feel free to drop your suggestions on the comment box on the right steps Federal Government should follow to ensure the resumption of all schools nationwide.
The Oyo State Executive Council at its meeting today 21st of July 2020 has approved the academic calendar to guide resumption of schools and other associated educational activities in the State.
“According to the approved calendar, Third Term 2019/2020 session has been cancelled and promotion of students, for all affected classes, will now be determined by First and Second Term Continuous Assessment.
“Pry 6, JSS 3 and SSS 3 will proceed on holiday from 30th of July and resume for their Examination as follows;
“Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE)- 10th to 18th August 2020
“Competitive Entrance Examination into the Schools of Science- 19th August 2020
“Placement/Screening Test to JSS1- 20th August 2020
“Placement Test into Technical Colleges- 28th August 2020
“The SSS 3 will resume for their Examination as soon as WAEC announce the date.
“The 2020/21 academic session, according to the calendar approved by the State Council is as follows;
“First Term- 21th September to 18th December 2020
“Second Term- 11th January to 9th April 2021
“Third Term- 3rd May to 30th July 2021
“The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology enjoins all stakeholders and members of the public to take note of the details of the academic calendar.”
LATEST UPDATE (17th July, 2020):FG to Review the Decison on Schools Resumption Date, Agrees with 4 Countries to Consider New Date for 2020 WASSCE, Gives Proprietors July 29 Ultimatum to Meet Specific Guidelines.
The Federal Government has given school owners in the country up to July 29, 2020, to meet specific guidelines towards the reopening of schools at a date to be announced in due course.
This came as it had settled with four countries on a new date for the suspended West African Examinations Council, WAEC 2020 WASSCE.
Minister of State for Education, Hon. Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, who stated this, Friday, in Abuja, said the ministry, having consulted widely, has in collaboration with Federal Ministry of Health, Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, (NCDC), the Education in Emergencies Working Group, developed and circulated guidelines for the reopening of schools.
The minister, according to a statement, Friday, by the Director of Information in the Ministry, Bem Goong, “school owners are to prepare and comply with the guidelines.
“Nwajuiba said schools are to undertake self-assessment and send feedback to state ministries of education, not later than 29 July 2020, “the statement quoted him as saying.
He said consultations with relevant stakeholders will be held to review the situation and decide on a specific date for reopening or otherwise.
The minister further said, having taken the painful but necessary decision not to reopen schools without necessary preparations to ensure the safety of students and teachers, the Federal Ministry of Education has continued consultations with stakeholders, and a mechanism to assess and monitor compliance shall be put in place.
According to him, “Since Tuesday last week, we have consulted widely with stakeholders in the sector, including Commissioners of Education in all the states of the federation, the Association of Private School Owners of Nigeria,(APSON), National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools,(NAPPS), Provosts of Colleges of Education, Rectors of Polytechnics, Vice-Chancellors of universities, some state governors, and development partners.”
Commenting on WAEC, Nwajuiba said, “We met with WAEC on Monday and have agreed to further consult with four other countries on new examination date.”
“We appreciate the concern shown by all stakeholders and note the divergent views expressed on the matter.
“Parents should be rest assured that the safety of our students and teachers is paramount as we work assiduously towards the speedy reopening of our schools for the exit classes to take external examinations,” he added.
LATEST UPDATE (16th July, 2020): South West States (Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Oyo, Osun and Ekiti States) Fixes August 3rd, 2020 as Resumption Date for Final Year Students (Pri.6, JSS3 & SS3) Students, Seeks Postponement of WAEC Exams to August, 24th, 2020.
The Six Southwest States have agreed to reopen schools for SS3 students to participate in the West African School Certificate Examination (WASCE) scheduled for August 4th to September 5th.
Their decision is contrary to the position of most of the 19 northern states, which supported the Federal Government’s decision to suspend school reopening for SS3 students due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Federal Government had declared last week that Nigeria unity schools will not be participating in WASCE over safety concerns.
But at a virtual meeting by the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission, Commissioners, Special Advisers on Education and SUBEB chairmen reached an agreement to reopen schools for SS3 students to write their final examinations.
The meeting also agreed on the needs for Southwest states to implement a 2016 plan to establish a regional examination body akin to IJMB in the North.
The plan was laid out at the roundtable on creating a collaborative framework for education development and advancement in Western Nigeria in Osogbo, the Osun State capital in 2016.
A statement by the DAWN Commission indicated that all the states will reopen schools for SS3 students by August 3 with COVID-19 preventive measures in place.
The States are Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, Osun and Ekiti.
According to the statement, the states will approach the Federal Government, at the first instance, to seek postponement of the WASCE by at least three weeks from the proposed resumption date.
At the second instance, states are to directly approach the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to seek postponement of the examination to August 24.
On resumption, all schools are to appoint incident managers and classroom wardens, according to the document.
There will also be designation of quality assurance department for each state to issue a safety compliance certificate to each school before reopening.
The state will also encourage intensive advocacy campaigns to stakeholders including parents, teachers, caregivers, school owners and pupils on what is expected of them when schools resume.
The meeting also called on the WAEC to encourage Computer-Based Tests (CBT) in the future.
LATEST UPDATE (13th July, 2020): FG Releases Guidelines for Schools And Learning Facilities Reopening After Covid- 19 Pandemic Closes (Download in PDF)
![Official Schools Resumption Date 2020 [36 States Nationwide]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxiGbLxn-auFfNuhdCoLWuzUqU0znv3KAkFHM4dCd3iQf0fgOn7WnP1rgG8Mn0Vteg-rks2z1L6oByCaJmMQUSd5tF-yT8KjTkUSPhq0bhFNRx5FUixBij1i0gvQiPtFoiowEmNsby7xg/s1600/FG+Guidelines+on+Schools+Resumption.png "Official Schools Resumption Date 2020 [36 States Nationwide]")
good safe school practices for the transformation of the education sector in the long term. The availability of these guidelines and implementation of its recommendations will ensure that all stakeholders within the educational system have a sense of their rights and responsibilities. In addition, this will help learners, teachers, parents, guardians, communities, and the larger society to trust the process of reopening and be assured that learning will continue in a safe and protective environment. This will also support governments in education reforms and effective service delivery during and post COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria.
The guidelines for the safe reopening of schools and learning facilities after the COVID-19 pandemic outline actions, measures, and requirements needed for
1. Ensuring adequate preparedness of schools and learning facilities for reopening and resumption of academic and other ancillary activities without placing the health, safety, and security of learners, teachers, administrators,
and other education personnel at risk;
2. A 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); and
3. Continued safe and quality teaching and learning activities by learners, teachers, and administrators that meet prescribed standards through remote and e-learning platforms with adequate safeguarding of their health, safety, and security during school shutdown period;
4. Entrenching and institutionalizing good practices in health, safety, and security in the nation’s education sector in the long term to strengthen systems and make them resilient against future similar occurrences. Click Here to Download Full Guidelines in PDF.
LATEST UPDATE (7th July, 2020): FG Reverses Decision to Re-open Schools for WAEC Examination.....FG Appeals to State to Reconsider on Resumption of Schools as WAEC Cannot Determine the Resumption of Schools.
The Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, who disclosed this to State House Correspondents on Wednesday after the seventh weekly virtual Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, also said there is no date for resumption of schools in the country yet.
He said he would prefer that Nigerian students lose an academic year than to expose them to dangers, appealing to state governments that had announced reopening of schools to reconsider their decision for the sake of the students’ safety.
Speaking on the effect the decision to keep schools closed could have on final year secondary school students, due to write the WAEC, Adamu said Nigeria would not open the schools yet, not even for the WAEC, which is a regionally control programme.
He, however debunked an earlier report, which claimed that the Minister of State for Education, Hon. Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, announced August 4, 2020, as resumption date for schools, saying the Minister was misquoted.
“I don’t know whether you journalists are misquoting the Minister of State for Education or maybe quoting what WAEC said and made it into a story. Schools under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Education will not be opened on August 4 or anytime soon.
“Our schools will only open when we believe it’s safe for our children and that is when the situation is right, not when the incidence of the infection is going up in the nation. I just want to make it clear.
“We will not open soon for examination or for any reason, unless it is safe for our children, even WAEC. WAEC will not determine for us what we do. Schools will remain closed.
“Yesterday we called on stakeholders who will tell us the situation and the way it should be done for it to be safe. While the meeting was going on, WAEC announced that they are starting examinations. Let’s see who they are going to start with.
“I will also like to use this position to ask those states that have already announced (reopening), I appeal to them. I think it is not safe. I feel responsible for all children, not just those who are in federal government controlled schools. Please let’s save our children from this.
“One infected child is enough to infect a whole class. When they close from class they go into the dormitory, this is not the right time to open schools. I appeal to the states that have already announced to reconsider it”, he said.
When asked if Nigeria will be the only country to miss out of the WAEC examinations, he said “me as Minister of Education, if I’m given the chance, I don’t mind Nigeria losing a whole school year than exposing our children to danger. WAEC is a parastatal of the Ministry of Education, they cannot determine for the government what it does”, he said.
What is your take on the new directives from the Federal Government? Air your views by using the comment box below.
LATEST UPDATE (6th July, 2020): FG Commences Disinfection / Decontamination of Schools Ahead of Resumption of Final Year (Primary 6, JSS3 and SS3) Students as from Tuesday 7th July, 2020.
The Federal Government has announced that the decontamination of schools against the spread of COVID-19 in preparation for the resumption of class activities will begin on Tuesday, July 7
The Minister of Environment, Muhammad Mahmood, disclosed this in Abuja at the briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19.
Mahmood also assured that it had enough hands on ground to carry out the disinfection exercise.
“Earlier I told you that we have sat with the Ministry of Education and we have the list of all the schools that need to be disinfected before resumption.
“Well, what we plan to do now is to do (decontaminate) the centres that will be used,” he stated.
Speaking on why the process was delayed, the minister said it was intentional, as the plan was to ensure that the chemicals were effective enough when the schools resume.
“The delay is because it is better to disinfect and decontaminate within a short period of time, so that the kids will be going back into these classes when they have been freshly decontaminated.
“This is because the chemicals we use are chemicals that are not long lasting; they have short contact time to do their job.
“So, we will be getting this done before Monday when they (school children) will be back to use these classes,” he said.
He assured parents that the schools would be safe for learning activities.
“So, it is between tomorrow (Tuesday) and the rest of the week. We have enough teams and people that we will be engaged to get that done.
“Be rest assured that your kids will be returning to a safe environment when they resume,” he said.
Mahmood stressed that the decontamination exercise would be done across the country.
LATEST UPDATE (5th July, 2020): FG to Meet with Critical Stakeholders on 7th July to Finalize on the Resumption Date and Guidelines for all Final Year (Primary 6, JSS3 and SS3) Students Nationwide
The Federal Government will meet with states on Tuesday to discuss the modalities for the safe reopening of primary and secondary schools.
Schools across the country have remained shut since March in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak in the country that has resulted in the infection of over 25,000.
The Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, had on Monday announced the resumption of schools, saying it was meant to allow pupils in graduating classes to resume preparation for examinations.
However, the Nigerian Medical Association and the Nigeria Union of Teachers argued that the move was not only badly thought out, but could also expose both teachers and pupils to the deadly infection.
Despite the directive of the Federal Government to reopen schools, much still hangs in the balance as state governments struggle to decide on dates to reopen schools.
The Edo State Commissioner for Education, Mr Jimoh Ijegbai, told Sunday PUNCH that the state had yet to conclude the modalities for schools resumption.
He said, “I just got an invitation from the Minister of Education and we are meeting on Tuesday. The truth is that we have not drawn out the modalities for their resumption. I have sent a memo to Mr Governor. We need to buy infrared (thermometers). We need to fumigate all the school premises, get hand sanitisers and personal protective equipment for teachers.”
The Chairman, Katsina State Universal Basic Education Board, Lawan Buhari, said the state ran educational programmes on the state radio and television to enable the pupils to keep up with their curricula at home.
He, however, added that, as for the resumption date for terminal pupils in primary and secondary schools, “we have yet to decide on that.”
Similarly, the Osun State Government, on Friday, said no date had been picked for school resumption in the state.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Mr Jamiu Olawumi, however, told one of our correspondents that teachers would resume before pupils in terminal classes returned to schools.
In Bauchi, the Commissioner for Education, Dr Aliyu Tilde, noted that the stae government was waiting for federal directives.
“Everything will depend on the guidelines provided by the Federal Government/NCDC (Nigeria Centre for Disease Control). All states are waiting,” he said in a text message.
Ogun State also said it would reopen schools for graduating pupils to sit their examinations but added that it had not agreed on the protocols.
Similarly, the Enugu State Government stated that it was putting all necessary safety measures in its schools before announcing a resumption day.
The state Commissioner for Education, Prof Uche Ezeh, said Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi “will make the appropriate announcement at the appropriate time.”
In the same vein, the Plateau State Commissioner for Secondary Education, Mrs Elizabeth Wapmuk, said the state government was still consulting with stakeholders on when schools in the state could reopen.
In Delta State, the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Patrick Ukah, also stated that the state was still meeting with stakeholders on schools resumption.
The Commissioner for Education in Gombe State, Dr Habu Dahiru, said efforts were underway to fumigate the schools for prompt resumption of pupils within the specified classes. He did not, however, give a specific date for the reopening.
The Niger State Government also noted that it was weighing the risk of reopening schools and putting in place sufficient plans.
The Commissioner for Education, Hannatu Salihu, said, “We got a directive from (the state) government to conduct a stakeholders meeting, which is ongoing and it involves critical education and inter-sectoral stakeholders, including health, water, information, environment and all relevant partners.”
Also, the Taraba State Commissioner for Information and Reorientation, Danjuma Adamu, stressed that “though the Federal Government has directed the class of Primary 6, JSS3 and SS3 should reopen, the governor still reserves the right to set a date that is convenient for schools in the state to open.”
The Benue State Government had, on Wednesday, after the State Executive Council meeting announced a partial reopening of schools for graduating pupils.
However, the Commissioner for Education, Prof Dennis Ityavyav, told one of our correspondents that no date had been fixed for the state-wide resumption.
Kwara State Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Fatimah Ahmed, also stated that there was no directive yet as to when pupils in terminal classes would resume.
The Ebonyi State Government, similarly, said reopening schools for terminal pupils in the state at present was equal to endangering their lives.
In Cross River State, the Commissioner for Quality Education, Dr Godwin Amanke, was not available for comment when one of our correspondents visited his office. He also did not respond to calls and text messages.
However, an official in the state government who spoke on condition of anonymity said no date had been fixed for schools resumption, adding that a statement would be issued once the government had decided on it.
In Rivers State, the Commissioner for Education, Prof Kaniye Ebeku, noted that the state was ready for schools to reopen but that it was awaiting the appointed date from the Federal Ministry of Education for synergy with other states.
LATEST UPDATE (3rd July, 2020): No Official Date Yet for Schools Resumption Other than Final Year Students in Pri 6, JSS 3 & SS3.
The Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 has clarified the controversy surrounding the resumption of schools across the country.
According to the PTF Chairman, Mr Boss Mustapha, the Federal Government has yet to approve the resumption of schools.
This was disclose by Mustapha on Thursday in Abuja at the PTF briefing on COVID-19, days after the government said graduating students could resume classes in preparation for their examinations.
He said, ”For the avoidance of doubts, schools have not resumed. Only critical examination classes will be allowed to resume for those who need revision before examinations.
“As we have informed you, the Federal Ministry of Education will consult further with stakeholders before issuing guidelines that will lead to full resumption.”
“We appeal to Nigerians to continue to show understanding and to ensure that their wards take full advantage of electronic platforms provided for learning,” the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) added.
He reminded Nigerians that the PTF had announced some limited measures for the education sector, although he insisted that it was still not safe to reopen schools.
The PTF chairman explained that President Muhammadu Buhari approved the resumption for graduating students in order not to truncate their progression.
He said the President approved that arrangements be made for them to resume for those who needed revision before the commencement of examinations.
Mustapha, however, decried that this aspect of the President’s approval had been subjected to several interpretations and misinterpretations
LATEST UPDATE (2nd July, 2020): FG Gives Reasons for Resumption of Schools for Pri. 6, JSS 3 and SS 3 Students.
The Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, on Wednesday, said that the West Africa Examination Council, WAEC, timetable is not determined by Nigeria.
The PTF Coordinator, Dr. Sani Aliyu, while speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, stated that the Federal Government will not want a spill-over in the nation’s academic calendar which will end up affecting graduating students.
According to him, this is the main reason why schools will be reopened nationwide for graduating students with immediate effect.
He said “We already have a large number of students that are in their exit year and they really need to move on.
“We have exams that are not specific only to Nigeria but in West Africa, WAEC for instance.
So, we need to find a way to safely get these students to do their exams and exit, otherwise we will have a serious spill-over when it comes to education.
“COVID19 will go away eventually even though we don’t know when but It may take a year or longer, and what we don’t want is for it to have such a significant impact on our educational program where children are unable to move at home where there is no mobility.”
Recall that the PTF Chairman, Boss Mustapha, had on Monday, said that schools will be reopened nationwide for graduating students with immediate effect.
He explained that the measure was to allow the graduating classes prepare for their final examinations.
UPDATE 2 (1st July, 2020): We Can't Resume Schools, We Don't Want to Die - Teachers Tell FG.
The Nigerian Medical Association and the Nigeria Union of Teachers, on Tuesday, took a swipe at the Federal Government over its “safe reopening of schools”.
The apex organisations of medical doctors and teachers in the country told The Newsmen that the directive that graduating classes should resume was not only badly thought-out, but also could expose both teachers and pupils to the deadly coronavirus
the NMA president asked, “What is the compliance of the citizens in terms of regular hand-washing and other safety protocols? At the moment, many of the schools don’t even have water. Obviously, it becomes very difficult to say that schools should reopen because you have to wash your hands regularly.
Again, I don’t know how the teachers would be teaching with face masks and all the pupils will wear face masks. If you are not used to face masks, you may not breath well, particularly if the one you have is not standard.”
He also said it would be difficult to observe social distancing in crowded classrooms. Ujah stated, “I believe the government should think about it. If they can stay a little, people have to be alive to go to school and the way things are happening, the compliance level is still very low. I don’t think it is appropriate to open the schools now.”
Also, the NUT general secretary said government was not serious with his directive. He said teachers could not resume because nobody wanted to die.
He stated, “I don’t know who is going to use his own child as a guinea pig. It is only those who are alive that can speak of keeping hope alive. How can we resume? Does anybody want to die?”
Ene said if government wanted teachers to resume, they should be provided with necessary materials and incentives.
The NUT general secretary stated, “The NUT is saying that the government has not assured us properly to go back to school. Has the NCDC (Nigeria Centre for Disease Control) moved around to make sure that the isolation centres are provided in schools? What measures have they told us have been provided for teachers to come back?
We are being taken for granted. Teachers are parents and human beings too and their children don’t want to lose them out of carelessness. We are ready. We are not afraid to teach. But government has not shown commitment for us to go back to school. All what the government is doing is mere politics.
“When you talk of guidelines, we have passed the stage of talking without actions. I just read a text from a certain school asking my daughter who is going to take final exams to come back. They are demanding sanitisers, face marks and other consumables, thereby throwing back the burden to parents who have already been overstretched with feeding their children since they have been at home.
But government has reneged on what it should do. In a class of 60, 40 or 70 pupils, you’re talking of physical and social distancing. Can a teacher take a class from 8am to 2pm, 2pm to 5pm and 5pm to 10pm? What is the PPE that government has given to teachers?
“If a teacher is going to face many pupils in a class, and has no PPE, how will the teacher function or they expect him to use his meagre salary? I don’t know if government is aware that as of today so many states and local governments are owing teachers.”
The NMA President, Prof Innocent Ujah, who spoke to one of our correspondents in Jos, said that given the current low level of compliance by Nigerians with COVID-19 safety protocols, it was risky to ask pupils to resume.
The NUT General Secretary, Mike Ene, said government was playing politics with the directive. He wondered how teachers, who had not been paid salaries in some states, would get money to buy personal protective equipment.
UPDATE 1 (1st July, 2020): FG Dashes Hope of Tertiary Institutions, Says No Plan to Re-Open Tertiary Institutions Soon.
Hope of tertiary institution students returning to school soon was dashed on Tuesday, when the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 confirmed that there was no plan on ground yet for the reopening of tertiary institutions.
This was disclosed by the National Coordinator of PTF, Dr. Sani Aliyu, in a Ray Power radio interview,
He said: “Currently, there’s no plan to reopen tertiary institutions. Our plan at the moment is to ensure that we contain the spread of this disease and ensure that we are in the state where normal socioeconomic activities would be restored.
“We know that schools, together with restaurants, bars and other entrainment activities could encourage community transmission of the dreaded coronavirus, hence the reason why we were not in hurry to reopen them.
“But, however, we have taken pragmatic measures to ensure we do not loose a whole year in terms of primary to secondary school transition, hence the President’s approval for schools to reopen so that exiting students could return to school and write their examinations some of which are regional.
“Summarily, there is no plan to reopen tertiary institutions until we get to the top of the numbers, and also see clearly that we are making significant progress in terms of flattening the curve.”
LATEST UPDATE (29th June, 2020): FG Lifts Ban on Interstate Travels, Set to Re-Open Schools for Final Year Students (Pri. 6, JSS 3, SS3 & Final Year Students in Tertiary Institutions).
The Federal Government has just announced a partial lifting of the ban on interstate movement.
This was announced moments ago by the Chairman of the Presidential Taskforce PTF on Covid-19 and Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF, Mr Boss Mustapha at a briefing Monday in Abuja.
He said there will also be a safe re-opening of schools to allow graduating students back to classes, while interstate movements would only take place outside curfew hours.
Announcing the new measures, the SGF said; “I am pleased to inform you that Mr. President has carefully considered the 5th Interim Report of the PTF and has accordingly approved that, with the exception of some modifications to be expatiated upon later, the Phase Two of the eased lockdown be extended by another four weeks with effect from Tuesday, June 30, 2020 through Midnight of Monday, 27 July, 2020.
“Specifically, however, the following measures shall either remain in place or come into effect:
- Permission of movement across State borders only outside curfew hours with effect from 1st July, 2020;
- Enforcement of laws around non-pharmaceutical interventions by States, in particular, the use of face masks in public places;
- Safe re-opening of schools to allow students in graduating classes resume in-person in preparation for examinations and;
- Safe reopening of domestic aviation services as soon as practicable”.
FG Briefs Senate on School Resumption on 23rd June, 2020.
The Federal Ministry of Education Tuesday briefed members of the Senate Committee on Basic and Secondary Education on its plans to reopen schools which have been shut as part of measures to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Vice Chairman of the Committee, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, who presided over the meeting, expressed the fears that the academic calendar could be distorted in public schools where no visible arrangement was being made to teach the children at home unlike their private schools counterparts.
She said public schools students were made to rely on educational programmes on radio and television stations whereas they tune to stations showing cartoons whenever there was no adult to guide them.
She said children in public schools don’t have access to online classes like their counterparts in the private schools.
She noted that the arrangement regarding radio and television stations was not working.
Eyakenyi said, “Even when the students in the cities have access to education programmes on radio and televisions, what of those in the villages? What do we do so that we don’t shut them out?
“If government can give guidelines for the reopening of churches and mosques, stakeholders in the education sector could also hold a meeting with the government to agree on guidelines for schools’ reopening.
“All we need to do is to come up with measures that would ensure the safety of both the students and their teachers.
“We can design a plan that would make sure that not all the students resume at the same time. We could probably start with the exit classes.
“We could have the numbers of students that would go to school in both the morning and afternoon sessions.
“We have to be innovative in our approach to save our educational sector in this country because nobody knows how long that the disease would be with.
What we have now is a proposal. Even if the Senate has not called us, we would have come to you to discuss with you because we have already discussed with the House of Representatives.
“The documents were presented to you so that you can criticise and make inputs as major stakeholders.”
The Federal Government has reacted to news circulating on the date for resumption of Schools following the ease of lockdown in the country.
Some news outlets had reported that the federal government had fixed July 20 as the date for the official resumption of schools across the country.
But in a statement on Thursday, the Ministry of Education dismissed the report, saying that the purported report did not originate from any of its media handles.
The statement urged Students, Parents and Guardians to disregard all unconfirmed news on the resumption of schools across the country.
It added that the official date for resumption of schools nationwide is yet to be confirmed.
Meanwhile, the federal government had begun disinfection of public schools across the country preparatory to resumption after months of shutdown following the outbreak of COVID-19 in the country.
The statement urged Students, Parents and Guardians to disregard all unconfirmed news on the resumption of schools across the country.
It added that the official date for resumption of schools nationwide is yet to be confirmed.
Meanwhile, the federal government had begun disinfection of public schools across the country preparatory to resumption after months of shutdown following the outbreak of COVID-19 in the country.
The ministry has however said for schools to resume academic activities, the school authorities must meet certain conditions which include:
All Institutions must have
(1) Hand-washing facilities,
(2) Body temperature checks
(3) Body disinfectants at all entering points to their major facilities including the gates, hostels, classes, offices, etc.
(4) The whole premises of each institution must be decontaminated and
(5) All efforts must be geared toward maintenance of the highest level of hygiene
(6) Ensure Social and Physical Distancing in class sizes and meeting spaces.”
The minister, however, warned against reopening of schools without the Federal Government’s authorization.
While we await the directive or official announcement of resumption of schools in Nigeria, you are advised to keep your self engaged with online lectures, do not fall prey to fake news circulating online on the official school resumption date as they are false and did not come from the ministry of education.
We will keep you updated on this page once an official date has been disclosed for schools resumption in Nigeria by the Federal Ministry of Education.
Please remember to stay safe! Feel free to drop your suggestions on the comment box on the right steps Federal Government should follow to ensure the resumption of all schools nationwide.
![[Music] King wealth Beatz Ft. Shidu Marley - Owo](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNbQbAgSdUsqFJqC06p-yIJGajTU9OQo_Sc5wvwYaqlkcowkuCp8CyWR46dG56g-SyKy7L6WVL_HxpyYwwRd9HtU5uyPMazn2V7eMFE8o5ffQpBlz_cvvb7xXRh5BVTjTMPp5IPBXQawgZKBE15wgKMmOb43pgc-t3AAKKxWxGvAk8-xYMk-H7gmdBcIs/w680/MUSIC_Owo_1722970890813.jpg)
