By Mahmoud Dogara (Bauchi State Correspondent)
As schools in the country are getting set to reopen, the United Nations Children Education Fund (UNICEF), in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education, Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) and Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), have developed a school reopening template as part of efforts to ensure that safety measures are put in place as laid down by NCDC guidelines for the reopening of schools.
The Minister of State for Education, Hon Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, who stated this in a keynote address at the Zonal Stakeholders Dialogue on School Reopening Readiness for School Resumption, held at the Zaranda Hotel Bauchi, recalled that the closure of schools was part of government's strategy to curtail the spread of corona virus as the school environment were considered to be veritable grounds for the spread of the virus.
Represented by a Director in the Federal Ministry of Education, Mr O. F Asanbe, the Minister said that the ministry of education considered it expedient to hold a stakeholders Dialogue on safe school readiness, taking place simultaneously in the six geographical zones across the country. He added that the readiness template requires the full engagement of all stakeholders which is considered for successful implementation.
"The Closure and the ease down period, particularly as regards the closure of schools, have lasted for seven months. Generally, through the concerted efforts of governments at all levels, there is a cautious belief and understanding that the pandemic curve has started flattening. This news provides the impetus for a positive hope that things are getting better. Regrettably, learners have lost a lot of grounds as far as education is concerned"
"It is on this premise that we are all here to deliberate and adopt the template for the safe re-opening of schools and learning facilities. The template has some key roles and shared responsibilities to be played by the stakeholders at National, State, local government and at the school levels" he said
In his Goodwill message at the meeting, the UNICEF Chief of Field Office, Bauchi, Mr Bhanu Pathak, stated that since the closure of schools across the 36 states as a result of COVID 19, millions of school children and their staff at all levels are currently staying at home. He added that not only are they missing out on education which is a fundamental human right, children are exposed to more risk of education setbacks such as examination failure. They have been uprooted from their schools where they have been taught and sensitized on COVID-19 prevention.
"As the curve of the pandemic begins to flatten, there is the need to make plans on the reopening of schools and ensure that safety preventive measures are put in place as laid down by the NCDC guidelines for the reopening of schools. This resulted in our gathering here today to share the school reopening readiness template with stakeholder for further review during which all stakeholders will look at the template and make objective contribution to ensure inclusiveness of all concerned"
"To achieve the objective of ensuring a safe return back to school, all efforts must focus on the following, safety operations, adopt minimum standards that promote healthy behaviour in school environments and operations for prevention of COVID 19 in schools in line with NCDC. We will ensure that schools have protective environment and set up a screening point for temperature screening including hand hygiene facility at the entrance of school and other strategic places, including the availability of WASH facilities such as buckets and soap, hand sanitizers, in compliance with the NCDC protocols in all schools" he said. NNL.
