Coronavirus: Lagos Govt Speaks On Reopening Schools

The Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu led government in Lagos State on Tuesday noted that the state does not have the authority to unilaterally order the reopening of schools in the state.

The Commissioner for Education, Folashade Adefisayo, stated this during an online programme, ‘Covinspiration show,’ moderated by a United Nations (UN) Youth Ambassador, Dayo Israel in Lagos.

According to Adefisayo, the state government is discussing with officials of the Federal Ministry of Education to draw up guidelines ahead of reopening of schools.

Adefisayo said: “Like other sectors already approved by the Federal Government to reopen, the state government is meeting with officials of the Federal Ministry of Education to design guidelines that must be adopted before the schools will be reopened.”

“We are watching the behaviour of the pandemic to see what happens next and we are working with the Federal government on the reopening of the schools in the country as soon as possible.”

“This is not a decision that any state can unilaterally take on its own. If we are certain that the children are safe, we will reopen the schools for learning to resume.”

“We are already working with the Federal Ministry of Education and they are working with National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) on the guidelines that could be adopted when the need arises for the schools to reopen.”

“After the protocol is completed and health officials assured us that the coast is clear, we will give the schools some days to adjust their premises in accordance with the guidelines on commencement of academic activities”.