School Reopening: Bayelsa Govt Lists Modalities Taken To Call Back Students

Governor Douye Diri led government of Bayelsa State has stated modalities already put in place for the reopening of schools to final year students to write their examinations.

The state government on Monday, August 3, said provisions have already been made so as to ensure the well-being of both teachers and students in the state during the window period approved by the Federal Government to participate in external examinations.

According to Messrs Freston Akpor and Walter Liverpool, Permanent Secretaries of Ministries of Information and Education respectively, the Diri’s administration is doing its best for the benefit of both students and teachers.

The government said it has started fumigating schools across the state as well as providing COVID-19 protective materials which include; hand washing facilities. The government, however, admonished residents in the state to support the government in fighting the dreaded pandemic.

“Gov. Douye Diri had approved the deployment of health professionals to schools while temporary isolation facilities would be put in place in schools,” said, Akpor who is a member of the Bayelsa COVID-19 Task Force.

“The government of Bayelsa State has been working to get our schools ready and safe for our children and that is why we have scheduled a train the trainers programme to acquaint schools with COVID-19 safety protocols. The essence is to build capacity of our people and update them with the guidelines from the Federal Government on the reopening of schools that is why we are taking our time and shifted the resumption for final year students to Aug. 5,” he added.

The statement reads further; “Government is providing face masks, infrared thermometers and access to water for schools without water supply, alternative arrangements are in place, and we are poised to check the spread of the coronavirus.”

“In view of the questionable and low quality of hand sanitizers, we are emphasizing frequent hand washing with soap and water, and we appeal to members of the public as well as parents and guardians to complement the efforts’ government is making.”

“Parents should for example provide additional face masks for their wards so that for instance when they wash the ones provided in schools, they can have a spare one.”

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education in Lagos State has announced the only students in Senior Secondary 3 classes will resume in Lagos and Ogun states.