By GRACE AUDU, Abuja –
School proprietors, parents and the residents in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have been reminded that going by the directive for the closure of schools in the Territory, no academic activities in all schools in any form are to commence until a notice to re-open is approved and conveyed by the relevant authorities.
Ag. Secretary of the Education Secretariat, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Umaru Marafa, who made this known in
Abuja on Tuesday, explained that the directive closing all schools at the outset of the Covid-19 pandemic explicitly stated that this directive was in effect “until further notice.”
Marafa said in a statement that this clarification became necessary because “it has come to the notice of the FCTA that some private Schools in the FCT are disseminating information to parents and students indicating the resumption the 2019/2020 third term calendar online and parents were therefore expected to pay schools fees for this term prior to the purported resumption.”
He said the implication of this was that “when the Schools will be reopened, adequate notice of the fact that 2nd term was inconclusive will be factored into the academic calendar which will dovetail into the 3rd term accordingly.”
“Any action taken otherwise is likely to negatively distort the academic calendar of the schools involved,” he pointed out.
“In light of the above, any School purporting to reopen for 3rd term before the approved calendar for opening of School post Covid-19 is doing so against the provisions of the extant guidelines on the establishment and operation of Schools in the FCT,” Marafa warned.
He therefore advised school proprietors to maintain the status quo and keep their schools closed and not re-open in any form while they await further directives from the FCTA.
“Violators of this directive will face the full wrath of the law,” he warned.
He disclosed that the FCTA Education Secretariat had however concluded plans to introduce e-learning platforms to include lessons on radio and television channels to keep the students constructively engaged while the lockdown lasts.
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