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Olalekan Adetayo, Eniola Akinkuotu, Friday Olokor, Grace Edema, Daud Olatunji, Abiodun Nejo and Peter Dada
There was confusion on Monday over reopening of schools in the country as the Federal Government issued guidelines, but failed to mention the resumption date for the schools.
The guidelines for the reopening of schools were contained in a document titled, ‘Guidelines for schools and learning facilities reopening after COVID-19 pandemic closures: Taking responsibility for safe schools and quality learning.’
It was signed by the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, and Minister of State for Education, Mr Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba.
The Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 had, at its press briefing on June 29, said the Federal Government had approved the resumption of graduating pupils in Primary 6, Junior Secondary School 3 and Senior Secondary School 3.
It said the resumption would enable the pupils to prepare for their final examinations. The task force said the West African Examinations Council had fixed the West African Senior School Certificate Examination for between August 3 and September 5.
At the June 29 press briefing, the PTF National Coordinator, Dr Sani Aliyu, said, “Pupils in graduating classes – only graduating classes; Primary 6, JSS 3 and SSS3 – will be allowed to resume in preparation for examinations.”
But on Wednesday, the Federal Executive Council, at its meeting made a U-turn when it put the planned resumption of graduating classes on hold on the grounds that it was not safe to reopen schools because of COVID-19.
It said pupils of the Federal Government-owned unity schools would not participate in WASSCE.
Despite putting the resumption on hold, the Federal Ministry of Education on Monday issued guidelines for the reopening of the schools.