COVID-19: FG gives crucial update amid contemplation to shut schools again
- Schools have no right to subject students to COVID-19 test as they return to classrooms
- This position was put forward by the Ministry of Education
- The ministry said school authorities may only do temperature checks before accepting returning students
PAY ATTENTION: Join Legit.ng Telegram channel! Never miss important updates!
The federal government, through the Ministry of Education, on Monday, January 18, warned schools across the country not to ask for COVID-19 test results as a requirement to accept students.
Stating that schools are only permitted to conduct temperature checks on returning students, the ministry warned schools to desist from making the test a condition.
The instruction is contained in a brief statement signed by the ministry's director of press and public relations, Ben Goong, The Nation reports.
Source: Twitter
The statement reads:
“The federal ministry of education says no Covid-19 Test is required for returning students to be admitted into their schools.
“Only temperature checks should be carried out on students and any other person crossing any school gate.
“School authorities should therefore refrain from asking students or parents to undergo Covid-19 test before they are accepted in their schools.”
Meanwhile, the reopening of schools slated for Monday, January 18, was generating hiccups as the House of Representatives faulted the decision, citing a surge in COVID-19 cases.
Reacting to the January 18 directive in a statement, Julius Ihonvbere, chairman of the House committee on basic education, said the reopening will pose a threat to the fight against the second wave of COVID-19.
Ihonvbere said the legislative arm was not reached before the federal government arrived at the decision, adding that the resumption date be postponed by three months.
He also lamented that there are no "verifiable and sustainable arrangements to protect and secure" the students during the pandemic."
His words:
“We are particularly concerned that when the infection rates 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?
“They did not consult us; at least in my committee, nobody from the ministry spoke to me. I have been in Abuja. And I am not sure that they spoke to any of my members."
COVID-19: Is Nigeria ready for another lockdown | Legit TV
Source: Legit.ng
