ARMSTRONG ALLAHMAGANI, Bauchi
Primary and Secondary Schools in Bauchi state have been directed by the state government to begin re-opening for academic activities from October 12th, 2020.
The Commissioner of Education, Dr. Aliyu Tilde, gave the directive at a press conference held at the Ministry on Friday.
He said that the decision to reopen schools followed a meeting with relevant stakeholders held by the Ministry on Thursday to conclude arrangements for the re-opening of the schools.
Tilde who pointed out that the resolutions reached were approved by the Bauchi state governor, Bala Mohammed, however, stressed that only schools that adhere strictly to the COVID-19 protocols are allowed to reopen.
He said the 10 guidelines for the re-opening include decontamination, wearing of face masks, temperature gun, COVID-19 buckets/soap, water, holding room, health focal person, testing, school health team and compliance and surveillance.
“At the stakeholders’ meeting, resolutions were made that all primary and secondary schools in the state can start re-opening on 12th October, 2020, subject to the compliance of each with COVID-19 regulations on school re-opening.
“That in Bauchi state, we should expand the COVID-19 school re-opening template which we successfully used to reopen the SS3 classes last August to cover the re-opening of the other classes.
“That no school shall reopen unless and until it meets the stipulated conditions in the schedule. So, not all schools may re-open on 12th October, 2020,” he declared.
Tilde said that the focal person of the National Center for Disease Control in the state will monitor and ensure compliance with the conditions stipulated in the schedule.
He said that it was also agreed that all schools with low class population can resume fully and run their usual school hours since social distance can easily be achieved, while observing other COVID-19 school protocols.
According to him, to meet COVID-19 requirements for social distance, schools with moderate and high class sizes will stagger their school hours and days vertically and horizontally.
He said that other resolutions reached are that: “Parents will provide face masks for their children on all school days. Schools under the Ministry of Education to use part of their N700/child PTA charges to provide infra-red thermometer, COVID-19 buckets and soap, while the Ministry takes care of decontamination.
“The schools under SUBEB mad Private schools can charge N200 per child for the provision of infra-red thermometer, COVID-19 soap and decontamination.
“Any parent who wants his child to resume, must give that N200. I am not advocating for education but I am advocating for the health of the children which is for the good of everyone. No child should be allowed to resume until they pay that money.”
The Commissioner said that schools can, where the need arises, use between now and 12th October to collect the N200 from parents to enable them meet the requirements mentioned.
According to him, all schools should contract decontamination to the Bauchi State Environmental Protection Agency (BASEPA) which will issue a certification to that effect stressing that “no school shall reopen without prior decontamination certified by BASEPA.
He warned that: “Any school that opens without decontamination will be shut down by the NCDC focal person.
Tilde rolled out the academic calendar for the schools pointing out that the 3rd term for the 2019/2020 academic year is scheduled for 12th October to 23rd December, 2020.
He said that the 1st term for the 2020/2021 academic year begins 4th January 2021 and ends 12th March 2021 while the 2nd terms is between 22nd March 2021 and 21st May, 2021.
The 3rd term for the 2020/2021 academic year, according to him, is scheduled to begin 31st May and would end 13th August, 2021 while the 1st term for the 2021/2022 academic year will be between 27th September, 2021 and 18th December, 2021.
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