Following the directives of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on Covid-19 for students in terminal classes to write exams, the Minister of State for Education, Hon. Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba has said the Federal Government will be adopting a template for the safe reopening of schools and learning facilities across the country.
It would be earlier recalled that in order to save the school children, the Federal Government had shut down all schools and learning facilities so as to curb the spread of Covid-19.
Hon. Nwajiuba who made this known in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday said the closure of schools at all levels invariably impacted the educational sector just like every other sector thus stakeholders from across the six group political zones will be meeting to have a critical dialogue on safe school readiness.
Meanwhile, he noted that the decision to close schools was as part of the government’s strategy to curtail the spread of the virus as the school environment were considered to veritable grounds to spread the virus.
However, the closure and ease down periods, particularly as regards the closure of schools has lasted for about seven months and learners have lost a lot of ground.
Nwajiuba stated that the ministry considered it important to meet and strategize the safe school readiness template to ensure an integrated approach for safe school reopening.
“Regrettably, learners have lost a lot of ground. In view of this, the ministry has considered it expedient to hold this stakeholders meeting to plan and approach the safe reopening of schools and learning facilities nationwide.
“Accordingly, the Federal Ministry of Education developed the safe school readiness template for an integrated approach for the safe reopening of schools with many lessons. The template requires the full engagement of stakeholders which is considered for full success,” he said.
“The template has some key roles and shared responsibilities to be the stakeholders at National, States and Local government and school levels so as to benefit the Nigerian school child,” he added.