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The Federal Government has issued guidelines ahead of the planned resumption of schools in the country.
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The guidelines, which failed to disclose the date of school resumption, was signed by the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu and Minister of State (Education), Hon. Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba. It was developed in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Environment, Federal Ministry of Health and health safety experts in the country
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The guidelines outlined actions, measures and requirements needed for the safe reopening of schools after the coronavirus pandemic.
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The guidelines released today, July 13, requires that students should be aided to maintain social distancing and stay at least 2 meters apart.
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The guidelines dealt extensively on plans for school reopening and operations, including attendance, social distancing, hygiene, cleaning, and non-pharmaceutical interventions for safe and healthy school activities and programmes.
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Mallam Adamu explained that the need to develop the guidelines became imperative, "given that COVID – 19 may be with us for a while."
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On social distancing in shools, the document reads, "However, there are exceptions where the two-meter rule cannot be reasonably applied and other risk mitigation strategies may be adopted. Examples include early years, younger primary school children, and those with additional needs.
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"In these circumstances, risk assessments must be undertaken with the best interests of the learners, teachers, and other education personnel in mind. The scenarios require organizing learners and children into small groups with consistent membership and compliance with the risk mitigation strategies. The membership of these groups should not change unless the NCDC public health guideline suggests otherwise."
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With the release of the guidelines, the government would conduct a rapid assessment and determine funding requirement for upgrading infrastructure and facilities such as classrooms, furniture, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene-WASH and ICT facilities to meet and sustain prescribed safe school reopening requirements.