By Ayo Kehinde
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State
The Lagos State Government on Monday joined its counterparts in Rivers, Bayelsa, and Ebonyi as the few states that have announced the resumption dates for the public and private schools in their domain amid the new wave of the Coronavirus pandemic.
While schools in Rivers state resumed on Monday , January 4, “to ensure the Academic time- table announced in August 2020 was not disrupted,” according to an announcement by Governor Nyesom Wike at the weekend, Bayelsa has chosen January 11 as the date to reopened its schools and Ebonyi and Lagos stick to the January 18 date fixed by the Federal Government through the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, led by Secretary to Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha.
Commissioner for Education in Lagos State, Mrs Folasade Adefisayo, announced the date on Monday in a statement by the Head, Public Affairs, Ministry of Education, Kayode Abayomi.
She said the date was in line with the Federal Government’s directive coupled with the second wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic.
“All public and private schools below the tertiary level in Lagos State should be reopened for the second term 2020/21 academic session from Monday, 18th of January, 2021.
“Schools should have flexible plans where students and teachers who feel sick can teach or learn from home via available online platforms. Schools should also strive to avoid any COVID-19 infection among all students and staff”, the statement read in part.
She also asked “all schools to make efforts to comply with all the outlined COVID-19 requirements for resumption of schools.
“Not just for the improvement of overall school operations but for the safe reopening of academic activities to support the Lagos State Government’s quest for a full return.”
The commissioner enjoined teachers, students, and visitors to wear facemasks at all times, observe physical distancing, embrace regular handwashing with soap under running water and maintain a high standard of personal hygiene within the school premises.
The schools, according to the statement, were also asked to make virtual learning available for sick or unwilling students in line with the Federal Governments directive.
