Education

Third term academic session begins in Oyo, Ekiti

By Web News 744

Schools in Oyo, Ekiti states fully resumed for third term academic session.

Some schools visited in Ibadan metropolis  experienced massive turn out compared to the partial resumption by students last week.

Speaking with Radio Nigeria, the principal of Oba Akinbiyi High school Oremeji Ibadan, Mrs Folashade Ayodele and the headmistress of C and S Basic school one Mokola Ibadan Mrs Elizabeth Akinlade expressed satisfaction on the level of turnout of their students.

Also speaking, Principal of community Grammar school Mokola, Ibadan Mrs Swaibat Bello who decried failure of students to resume last week Thursday, called on parents and guardians to always adhere to government’s resumption date for effective teaching and learning.

The head of schools urged parents and guardians to equip their wards with necessary learning skills for excellent academic performance.

Schools in Ekiti record high turn out of students on resumption
In the same vein, schools in Ekiti State re-opened for the third term academic session today, as students and pupils trooped out in large number this morning to their various schools.  
According to some schools visited, Radio Nigeria observed that, students and pupils were happy to resume for the last term in 2021/2022 academic session. 

 Early in the morning, school buses were  going round to pick students and pupils to their various schools.       
Songs and prayers were offered to usher in the new term while academic activities have begun in most of the schools.

Some of the places visited are SAM-JEWEL Nursery and Primary school, new prisons Road, Community Primary School, Elemi, Anglican High School, Housing road and Muslim College, Oke-Ila, all in Ado Ekiti.

In an interview, some of the students expressed happiness over the resumption.    

Also, the proprietor of SAM-JEWEL school, Mr Emmanuel Oluyemi said the turn out of students was commendable, saying that,      academic activities had commenced without wasting  time.

Fasilat Lawal/Amos Ogunrinde

Education

Ekiti Government Postpones Schools Resumption

By Web News 904

Ekiti State Government has postponed school resumption earlier scheduled for tomorrow Wednesday May 4.


The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Dr Folakemi Olomojobi announced this in a statement in Ado Ekiti.


Dr Olomojobi said public private primary and secondary schools in the state will now resume next week Monday May 9.


She advised school authorities, parents, guardians, students, pupils and other stakeholders to comply with the new date of resumption.

Here is the statement below:


PR/Ogunrinde Amos

Education

Palpitating Heartbeat, As Schools Resume

By Web News 1170

After the Christmas and New Year celebrations that attracted numerous spending by families, friends and loved ones, the preparation of parents towards the resumption of their children do often appear challenging in January, the first month of the Year. This is because responsibilities ahead are often not put into consideration during the festivities.
Hence, people experience financial constraints at the beginning of the year.
Correspondent, Rotimi Famakin, who looked at the preparedness of parents towards resumption in Ibadan, Oyo state capital reported that teachers and school administrators were putting finishing touches to their arrangements to welcome students back to school.

 However, some parents expressed concern over the payment of their children school fees. One of the parents, Mr Dawud Afolabi appealed to the government not to hike the pump price of petrol as being proposed so as not to make living more stressful to the people. “There is no preparation other than to pray to God to provide for us. Preparation goes beyond monetary, material preparation also counts. We appealed to the government not to hike the fuel pump price as being proposed”
Mr Dawud noted that there was a paucity of funds everywhere.
While on preparation assessment visits to some schools in Ibadan, Radio Nigeria observed that teachers were on the ground getting their lesson notes and diaries ready while other non-teaching staff were sighted cleaning the schools’ surroundings.

At Oba Akinbiyi High school 2, Mokola, the principal, Mrs Oluwatoyin Ayodele said a staff meeting had already been arranged for today ahead of resumption. “that is why I’m in school today. We had a meeting with our Zonal head yesterday. We are having a meeting with our teachers today”

The situation was not different at the Shepherd Success Academy, Agbowo, Ibadan where the staff were cleaning the school premises and classrooms to make it conducive for the students.

Teachers cleaning school premises ahead of resumption.

In an interview, the Head Mistress of the school, Mrs Bolanle James said, parents should ensure that their childrens’ fees were paid early enough to forestall their wards from being sent away from school. “We appealed to parents to pay their children’s school fees on time before we lay them off.”
Mrs James appealed to parents to prepare adequately for their children’s early arrival to school for the timely commencement of classwork.

Rotimi Famakin

News Analysis

Enhancing Adherence To COVID-19 Guidelines By Primary And Secondary Schools

By Web News 1111

The reopening of schools amidst the second wave of COVID-19 has been generating hiccups as the House of Representatives and some stakeholders faulted the decision, citing a surge in the cases.

The House said the reopening would pose a threat to the fight against the second wave of COVID-19.

It therefore advised the federal government to close all schools in the country for three months, a proposal the federal government did not adopt.

Earlier, the Presidential Task Force On COVID-19’s chairman and Secretary to the Government of the Federatio, Mr Boss Mustapha said following the outbreak of COVID-19 second wave all schools in the country would remain shut till January 18, a day the federal government kept faith with.

No doubt, the outbreak of COVID-19 altered the school calendar and staggered resumption of students nationwide.

As another school calendar year begins, the World Health Organisation, W.H.O had issued new guidelines on the safe reopening of schools amidst second wave of COVID-19 in respect to the protection of nearly 1.3 billion students worldwide.

These include reduction of pupils in classes and fumigation of learning environment.

Similarly, the Nigeria Centre for Diseases Control, NCDC, said some guidelines had been issued to schools to ensure the safety of the children and curtail the spread of the virus.

To complement these measures, schools management should ensure that conditions which reduce disease transmission and promote healthy behavior among the pupils are established.

Soap and water for hand-washing should also be made available while social distancing is maintained.

Regular inspection of schools is necessary to ensure that all COVID-19 instructions and guidelines are complied with.

Schools authorities must be made to inculcate COVID-19 safety protocols such as hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette, physical distancing, use of masks in the school environmental, cleaning, ventilation and respecting procedures.

Olubunmi Agboola

Education

School Resumption: Most private schools can’t cope with COVID-19 protocols – Professor Bodunde

By Web News 1051

In a reaction to the agitation over the re-opening of private schools in Ogun State, an educationist, Professor Helen Bodunde has called on the federal and state governments to be cautious as some of the private schools’ proprietors are possibly not ready for re-opening.

The don while speaking with newsmen in Abeokuta hinted that not all private schools could cope with the COVID-19 protocols for reopening of schools.

The president of Education, Gender, Youths and Family Network, EDUGUF-N, a nonprofit organisation based in Abeokuta, noted that resources will not permit all private schools to obey the precautionary measures against COVID-19 while the government also lack the manpower to monitor all the schools for compliance.

She noted that experience have revealed that government efforts would be on compliance of the big private schools while no life of a child is worth sacrificing in the rural area and the hinterland.

Professor Bodunde noted that many states failed in monitoring the compliance in earlier reopened sectors such as transportation, market and other public places.

The Professor of Teaching English as Second Language stressed that life is more important than the proposed hasty reopening of schools.

She advised the stakeholders to learn from the experiences of other countries like South Africa by exercising restraint in yielding to the pressure of the few proprietors calling for the reopening of schools and she as well urged parents to also speak out.

Wale Oluokun

Yoruba

Gomina Fayemi Pase Ayewo Arun Covid-19 Fawon Akeko N’ipinle Ekiti

By Web News 699

Gomina ipinle Ekiti, Omowe Kayode Fayemi ti pase ayewo arun COVID-19, awon oluko atawon akeko kokan lati mu adinku ba itankale aarun COVID-19 n’ipinle naa.

Gomina Fayemi ninu oro re lori afefe fawon eeyan, tokasi pe igbese ayewo arun, ti safihan opo arun COVID-19, to si sope igbese naa yoo tan de awon ile-eko.

O salaye pe ijoba ti safomo awon ile-iwe ijoba ti igbese is n je gbigbe lati san awon igboo, lati mu eto eko rorun pelu ayika too yee koroo.

Omowe Fayemi, fikun pe ijoba ti pese awon ohun tooye feeto abo lori arun COVID-19 laon ile-iwe ti igbimo kan siti je gbigbe kale lati maa sabewo sawon ile-eko.

Elizabeth Idogbe/Amos Ogunrinde

Education

Schools Resumption: Gov. Abiodun Reverses 25,000 Naira Payment for COVID-19 Test

By Web News 910

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has announced that the COVID-19 test for all returning SS3 boarding students will be done free of charge for students in both public and private schools across the state. 

Reacting to a recent protest by parents of SS3 boarding students in private schools over the payment of 25,000 naira for the mandatory COVID-19 test, Governor Abiodun gave the assurance that students who had paid for the tests would be refunded. 

Governor Abiodun said his administration had also canceled the compulsory COVID-19 test as a requirement for returning students in exit classes and urged private school owners to rise to the responsibility of taking care of their students.

He pointed out that with the testing capacity of 500 tests per day in the state laboratories, it might not be feasible for all boarding students to get tested and get their results before commencement of examination on 17th August 2020. 

The governor pointed out that admittance of students into boarding facilities in private secondary schools would be at the discretion of the management and the Parents Teachers Association of such private schools.

While recommending that students with underlying health conditions should attend school from home daily, Governor Abiodun said face masks would be distributed to all students in both private and public schools across the state.

Bolanle Adesida

Education

Parents of Private Secondary School Students Protest High Cost of Covid-19 Test

By Web News 724

Parents of final year students in private secondary schools in Ogun State have appealed to the state government to reverse the twenty-five thousand naira cost of Covid-19 for boarding students before resumption for the Senior Secondary Schools Certificate Examination.

The parents made the appeal during a protest at the MTR Specialist Hospital, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, venue of the test.

Radio Nigeria correspondent completes the story.

Francisca Irekpita

News Analysis

Imperative of Schools’ Compliance with Covid-19 Protocols on Resumption

By Web News 866

As schools resume for another academic session, it is important for them to put in place necessary safety measures as stipulated by the Federal Ministry of Education.

The federal government last week approved what it called “Safe reopening of schools nationwide” as part of the next phase of the gradual easing of lockdown ordered to curtail further spread of Covid-19.

Though, only graduating students in primary 6, junior secondary school 3 and senior secondary school 3 will resume, higher institutions, daycare centres and other classes in primary and secondary schools, apart from final classes, will remain closed until further evaluation.

Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19, Mr. Boss Mustapha, disclosed these at the daily briefing of the task force in Abuja.

Mr Mustapha said the reopening of schools was meant to allow pupils in graduating classes resume preparation for examinations.

However, the Federal Ministry of Education had issued guidelines for reopening which include use of distant learning centres and temporary shelters, disinfection and fumigation of facilities including hostel accommodation, with particular attention on those used as temporary isolation and treatment centres as well as use of infrared thermometers for temperature check.

It also wants schools to sensitise, train and build the capacity of teachers, administrators, and other education personnel to effectively use and comply with the school Covid-19 referral system and protocols for safe distancing and hygiene in schools.

The government has also lifted the ban placed on interstate travels with effect from July 1, provided such journeys are made outside curfew hours.

Chairman of the Presidential Task Force, P.T.F, on Covid-19 said President Muhammadu Buhari approved the extension of the Phase II of the lockdown by another four weeks with effect from Tuesday, June 30, 2020 through midnight of Monday, 27 July, 2020.

Similarly, Presidential Task Force Coordinator, Dr Sani Aliyu pointed out that the government had approved the safe resumption of domestic flights in the country and domestic aviation services while restrictions on mass gatherings and sporting activities remains.

While stressing that transporters must adhere to guidelines that will be released by the Federal Ministry of Transportation, passengers must maintain physical distancing, as well as temperature checks.

Dr. Aliyu added that state governments would inspect facilities and confirm compliance as a pre-condition for resumption of interstate operations by transporters.

As some students resume, it is of utmost importance that schools adhere strictly to the Covid-19 protocols of providing running water with soap, hand sanitizers, physical distancing and regular nose covering.

Parents should ensure they pay attention to the health of their children while at home by providing them with nose masks, hand sanitizers and regular hand-washing under running water.

Titilayo Kupoliyi

Education

Schools’ Resumption: We are prepared to protect further spread of Covid-19 – Oyo Govt.

By Web News 837

As students in primary and secondary schools in Oyo State are preparing to resume on next Monday 6th July 2020, the state government has announced various measures that have been put in place to prevent the spread of coronavirus in schools.

The State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mr Olasunkanmi Olaleye, who made this known today at his office in Ibadan, said various trainings have been given to categories of school heads, principals and teachers on how to monitor and report any symptom of Covid-19 to the authority.

Mr Olaleye said the state had set up Emergency Operation Centers, EOCs, in the state capital and at the zonal levels and had appointed Incident Managers for each school who would report any emergency directly to the EOCs through special communication lines.

He stated further that each class would have a Warder whose duty is to relate his or her observations to the Incident Managers .

Among the measures are compulsory hand-washing points at the school entrances and at the entrance of each classroom as well as alcohol-based sanitizer for the use of students and teachers.

Heads and teachers of public and private schools had been trained on Covid-19 prevention measures as schools resume .

He added that each school had been mandated to strictly enforce social distancing and observe other protocols against Covid-19 among teachers and students as laid down by NCDC.

Mr Olasunkanmi said the fear being exercised by the general public over the resumption was appreciated by the government, as it had helped the administration to still go deeply into keeping to stringent measures to avert the spread of the virus.

Oyo State Government announced that teachers of public schools in the state should resume on Monday 29th of June in preparation for the July 6th students’ resumption.

Signed:

Wasiu Olatubosun,

Hon. Commissioner for information, Culture and Tourism,

Ibadan. Wednesday 1st of July, 2020.