SLUG = Imo Government Reveals Plans To Reopen Schools
FROM = EVEREST EZIHE, Owerri
Inspite of the global ravaging effects of Covid-19 and the arithmetical daily increase of people testing positive to Corona Virus in Imo State and its environ, the state government have advanced plans for re-opening of schools in the state insisting that it has put in place adequate preliminary measures to ensure that candidates who registered for the 2020 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE)and General Certificate Examination (GCE) being conducted by West African Examination Council (WAEC) must sit for the forthcoming examinations of the council.
A statement by the Public Relations Officer, PRO of the Ministry,Unadike William and made available to The Authority in Owerri quoted the State Commissioner for Education, Prof Bernard Ikegwuoha, to have said that schools in the state will commence classes exclusively for Senior Secondary School students who will be writing their examinations.
He stated that some measures will be taken by the state government for strict compliance by the schools and parents in order to forestall the spread of coronavirus, while students are in school.Some of the measures include:
Every school as a matter of urgency should resuscitate Parents Teachers Association (PTA) to ensure that NCDC protocols against COVID-19 are driven by both Parents and Teachers.
That parents will take responsibility for their children/wards protection with specificity to the provision of Face Masks for their children and themselves. Indeed, parents will ensure that they bring their children/wards to school and equally take them home after school and examination each day.
Finally, the students must wear face masks, maintain social distance, avoid handshake/hugging and wash or sanitise their hands regularly.
The Education Commissioner further said that the Ministry will collaborate with the Secondary School Management Board, SEMB, to ensure that all public schools are fumigated and the environment, which the Ministry will oversee, including compliance to the World Health Organization, WHO, and Nigerian Centre For Disease Control, NCDC and Covid 19 Task Force.
The Commissioner also said that other examination classes that is primary 6 and JSS 3 will be engaged in the e- learning programmes, as state government is working in concert with some telecommunication companies to provide internet services at a reduced cost so as to relive students the burden of data.
