Reps kick against reopening schools on Monday

The House of Representatives has opposed the decision of the Federal Government to reopen schools on Monday January 18, despite the spike in COVID-19 cases in the country.

The House Committee on Basic Education and Services said government officials never consulted the relevant members of the National Assembly, contrary to their claim that all relevant stakeholders were consulted before arriving at the January 18.

Chairman of the committee, Prof Julius Ihonvbere, in a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday, on behalf of the committee, said they were opposed to the Monday resumption date.

The statement was titled “School resumption: Are we truly prepared?”

It read, “The Committee on Basic Education and Services, House of Representatives, has received with concern the decision of the Federal Government to reopen schools on January 18, 2021.

“We are particularly concerned that when the infection rate hovered around 500 and under, schools were closed; but now that it hovers well above 1,000 infections daily, schools are being reopened. Why are we rushing to reopen schools without adequate verifiable and sustainable arrangements to protect and secure our children?”

A statement by the Director, Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Education, Ben Goong, said it was unanimously agreed that the resumption date of 18th January should remain, while parents and respective institutions should ensure full compliance with COVID-19 safety protocols.

The Federal Ministry of Education had in a statement issued by its Director, Press and Public Relations, Ben Goong, said it was unanimously agreed that the resumption date of 18th January should remain, directing parents and institutions to ensure full compliance with COVID-19 safety protocols.

Although vice chancellors of universities have either reopened or announced resumption dates, the Academic Staff Union of Universities, which just suspended a nine-month old strike, has said the institutions have not done enough to protect students and workers from getting infected with COVID-19 new strain.