The Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu-led Lagos State Government has announced dates for the resumption of public and private schools after the closure, resulting from the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic a few months ago.
Sanwo-Olu, in a statement on Sunday by Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Folasade Adefisayo, explained that his administration is adopting a phased approach to the reopening of public schools in Lagos State in order to observe the COVID-19 safety protocols.
The statement said the present set of JS3 and SS2 students in public schools in the state would resume classes from September 21, so as to allow JS3 students who are already in an exit-class to revise and prepare adequately for their forthcoming Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) organised by the Lagos State Examination Board and scheduled to hold between October 6 and 12.
The commissioner added that the resumption would also afford the present SS2 students the opportunity to prepare effectively for their transition to SS3.
Regarding the resumption of private primary and secondary schools in the state, the statement said the schools are permitted to resume from September 21, reaffirming the need for school owners to institute all necessary safety protocols as well as resume in phases similar to the plans for public schools.
“Phased opening includes strategies for staggered resumption in the mornings, classes on alternate days during the week and teaching through various distance learning methods.
“Schools must also comply with safety protocols and hygiene guidelines as instructed by Lagos State Government, through the Office of Education Quality Assurance (OEQA), which will also continue to monitor and evaluate Schools’ preparedness,” Adefisayo said.
She emphasised that pre-primary classes in both public and private schools would remain closed until further announcements are made, reiterating that the pandemic still exists, urging all stakeholders to prioritise the safety of the children, teachers and parents as well as the whole community.
She added that the scheduled dates and venues for the Entrance Examination into Lagos State Model Colleges would soon be announced by Lagos State Examination Board.
Assuring parents that announcements relating to the resumption of other classes would be made as soon as the government is certain of safety, Adefisayo disclosed that the students belonging to the yet-to-resume classes in public schools would continue their lessons on the various distance learning platforms created by the state government.
Idowu Sowunmi
