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Chief Patrick Ukah, Delta Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, has expressed satisfaction with the level of teachers and student’s compliance as SSS 3 students in the state resumes.
Ukah said in a statement on Wednesday that he had visited some schools to ascertain the level of turnout of students and teachers’ compliance with the COVID-19 preventive measures.
According to him, the enthusiasm shown by the students indicated that they were happy to return to schools to prepare for their examinations.
“All students and teachers must always wear their face masks and undergo temperature checks at the entrance of their schools daily.
“In no distant time, JSS 3 students will resume to begin preparation for their Basic Certificate Examination.
“I enjoined teachers to immediately embark on revision classes with the students that have resumed,” he said.
The commissioner also urged the teachers to shun laxity and redouble their commitments toward impacting positively on children.
“It is only SSS 3 students that resumed on Tuesday, but the resumption dates for JSS 3 students and primary six pupils will be made public in due course.
“A minimum of five minutes break in between classes should be given to the students,” he said.
Ukah said that a five-member committee had been put in place in all the local government areas to monitor compliance with the COVID-19 protocols in schools.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the commissioner and his team visited Government Model Secondary School; Westend Mixed Secondary School and St. Patrick’s College.
Other schools visited include: Asagba Mixed Secondary School; Osadenis Mixed Secondary School and Isioma Onyeobi College, all in Asaba and Oshimili South Local Government Area.
They also visited Trinity College; St. Augustine’s College; Ibusa Mixed Secondary School; Omu Boys Secondary School, all in Ibusa, and Okpanam High School, Okpanam.
“Adaigbo Secondary School, Ogwuashi-Uku, Aniocha South Local Government Area.
Edited By: Olagoke Olatoye (NAN)
The Principals of King’s College, Lagos, Mr Andrew Agada, and Queen’s College, Lagos, Dr Tokunbo Yakubu-Oyinloye, have assured parents and guardians of safety of their children and wards as they resumed.
Agada and Yakubu-Oyinloye gave the assurance in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday in Lagos, on the resumption of schools by the exiting students of the 104 Unity Colleges across the country.
The students were resuming to write their examinations after a long break due to the lockdown and closure of schools following the outbreak of Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the country.
NAN also reports that the schools had been shut following the directive from the Federal Ministry of Education since March, as a result of the ravaging pandemic.
The Federal Government after due consultations with other key stakeholders, agreed to reopen the schools only for the existing classes of the Senior Secondary School 3 and the Junior Secondary School 3.
This is to allow the SSS 3 students to participate in the 2020 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
Agada said: “First and foremost, I want to thank God for sparing our lives, the children, our parents and all other stakeholders. We have also been looking forward to receiving them.
”I also want to seize this opportunity to thank the Federal Ministry of Education for the assistance rendered so far in order to make this resumption possible.
”Yesterday, the entire college was decontaminated, ranging from the classrooms, hostels the laboratories, everywhere, by the Federal Ministry of the Environment.
”We want to assure our parents that there is no need to panic, as our lives are in God’s hands but we will do our best and God will continue to protect us.”
According to him, the college has set up a committee called the “COVID-19 Guidelines Enforcement Committee”.
He said that the committee was made up of dedicated teachers that would be going round during the classes, the dinning halls and hostels to ensure that the students maintain the safety protocols.
Agada added that already, messages had also been sent to the parents and guardians to also advice their children and wards against any form of gatherings or contact activities such as playing of football or games that would bring them together.
“They have come, let them concentrate on their examination as there is barely no time left, and so, we have put a committee in place whose responsibility is also to monitor the students.
”By tomorrow, full lecture will commence. We are fully prepared. The timetable is out and the teachers are very ready more than ever before to hit the ground running,” he said.
On the part of the management, the principal said that they have also put certain things in place.
“First, since it is only the SS3 students that are coming back, we have prepared hostels and spread them to all the hostels that hitherto, accommodated SS1, 2, 3 in the college.
”So, currently, we are not having more than 12 students in a room.
“Secondly, on the issue of classrooms, we have 30 of it at our main campus here, for the senior school.
“The SS3 students are coming in soon and these ones will be occupying 19 classrooms at the JSS section of the college, as against the 10 they used to occupy before now.
”All these are means of ensuring strict adherence to social distancing and also we have sanitisers, even customised ones, that is the pedal one.
“And graciously, where we procured some of these equipment from, the company is also coming in to assist us by giving us automated dispensers, like you see at the airports and other places,” Agada said.
He added that the college would also be mounting about 15 of such at the main campus and another 15 at the annex for the Junior Secondary School.
”We have also worked on our water, as we recently dug another borehole to expand our water reticulation system.
“The hostels too, we have worked on the hostels, the bunks, the broken down ones have been repaired, the classroom desks, we have also refurbished them.
”So, as the students are coming, we are sure that there is enough desks, bunks, space and water and all other necessary facilities that would ensure their safety and comfort.
“They have come, let them concentrate on their examination as there is barely no time left and so we have put a committee in place whose responsibility is also to monitor the students.
“Again, another measure we adopted to reduce the crowd is to allow the borders in two houses, to be checked in first. We have four houses. By tomorrow borders in the other two remaining houses will be checked in,” he said.
The principal added that for now, only the borders were being checked in.
He said parents of some day students were also applying to be accommodated as boarding students.
The principal cited difficulty of accessing the roads to the college, following the closure of the 3rd Mainland bridge as a huge challenge.
”We have considered them, because we have the space.
”Our advice, therefore, to our parents is to remain hopeful and assuring that God who has kept us all these while, is still fully in control, and we must look unto Him and have faith in Him.
”It is our prayer too that our students will all finish their examination successfully in good state of health and will all return home to their parents safely,” he prayed.
Also, at the Queen’s College, Lagos, its Principal, Dr Tokumbo Yakubu-Oyinloye, took NAN Correspondent round the college premises.
Yakubu-Oyinloye said: “We have put all the guidelines and protocols in place to ensure that our students are safe when they resume and all through the period of their stay here.
“You can see the sitting arrangements in our classes. We do not have more than 20 students per class with their seats placed two metres apart from each other.
“Names of students per class have been pasted by the entrance of each of the respective classes.
”We have also fixed automated hand sanitisers in all the classes, including the foot pedal sanitiser at the gate.”
According to her, instead of using the 12 classes that were designated before now for SS3 students, 34 more classrooms, including those for the SS1 and SS2 have now been converted for tluse of SS3 students to ensure social distancing.
Yakubu-Oyinloye added that the same measures also applied to the hostels.
The principal said that the school management, in collaboration with the PTA had fumigated the hostels and all other sections of the college.
She said that already, the Federal Ministry of Education, also in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of the Environment, had decontaminated and disinfected the entire college.
”We have also serviced our water treatment plant as well as wash our tanks. In addition to keeping social distancing, we will also be staggering our break periods as well as our meal time.
”We have also designated a building as an isolation centre in the college, should there be any case of high temperature, before contacting the appropriate authorities.
“On the part of the teachers, they have been fully sensitised and equipped.
“In fact, teachers who will have no business on campus are not allowed to come around. They can do their jobs at home.
“In the same vein, all returning SS3 students must also come with at least five masks and must wear their masks before they can be checked in.
“They must also ensure that they come with their personal effects including cutleries as sharing is not allowed,” Yakubu-Oyinloye said.
The principal commended a set of the Old Girls of the college for donating 68 white boards for each of the classrooms in the college, adding that already another set of the old girls are set to donate four interactive boards to facilitate teaching and learning.
She pleaded with parents to impress it on their children and wards to ensure that they always adhere strictly to the safety guidelines.
NAN reports that the resumption of the JSS 3 students of the Unity Colleges in the state had been moved to Aug. 10.
Edited By: Tayo Ikujuni/Olagoke Olatoye (NAN)
A Gwagwalada Chief Magistrates’ Court, FCT on Tuesday sentenced one Ja’afar Adamu to one year imprisonment for impersonating as a staff of the State Security Service (SSS).
Adamu of Egume village, Dekina LGA of Kogi, had pleaded guilty to the two-count charge of impersonation and forgery preferred against him.
The Magistrate, Aliyu Shafa, however sentenced Adamu to six months imprisonment for each offence or an option of N5,000 fine for each offence.
Shafa cited the Holy Bible and Quran to buttress his sentencing, adding that he was satisfied with the evidences given by the defence witnesses about the good character of the defendant.
He said the punishment would serve as a deterrent to anyone planning to trail that part in the future.
Shafa also warned Adamu to desist from committing crimes and be of good behaviour.
Earlier, the defence counsel, Khalid Salaw, pleaded with the court to tamper justice with mercy, adding that the defendant was a family man with four children and a pregnant wife.
Salaw said that the defendant was a first offender and had no criminal record or arrest in the past.
The defence counsel told the court that the defendant had learnt his lessons and would not repeat the act in future.
The prosecutor counsel, Victor Ejelonu told the court that the defendant cheated by impersonating as a staff of SSS at varying locations within Abuja while conveying passengers.
Ejelonu said that the defendant also forged the identity card of SSS with his name and logo of the SSS, FCT with force No. FCA332449.
He said that the offence contravened the provisions of Sections 321 and 363 of the Penal Code.
Edited By: Chioma Ugboma/Obike Ukoh (NAN)
Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State has approved the constitution of visitation Panel for the Kwara State Polytechnic and International Aviation College, Ilorin.
In a statement, Hajiya Sa’adatu Modibbo-Kawu, Kwara Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Science and Technology said on Monday that the visitation panel will be chaired by Dr. Fatai Bello.
She stated that Bello was Country Representative of the Global Fund, a United Nations’ agency in Nigeria and former Council member of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin.
According to her, other members of the panel include Mr Suleiman Talban Lafiagi; AbdulGaniyu Sani, a Chartered Accountant/ forensic audit expert; Muyideen Aliyu, Rtd Director of SSS; Mrs. Yetunde Adekeye, former Principal, School of Midwifery; and Hajiya Asmau Yusuf Saka, Rtd Banker/Accountant.
She disclosed that the Assistant Director of the Kwara State Ministry of Tertiary Education, Science and Technology, Ayansola Justina, will act as the secretary of the visitation panel.
Kawu-Modibbo also said the governor has also accepted the appointment of Prof. AbdulGaniyu Alabi, former Dean, College of Engineering, Kwara State University (KWASU), as chairman of International Aviation College Visitation Panel.
She noted that other members of the visitation panel are: Mr AbdulFatai Olajide, Private Chartered Accountant and Auditor as member, and Mrs Christina Amudipe, a Primary Health Consultant ad member, among others.
Edited By: Felix Ajide (NAN)
The Kaduna State Government has directed secondary schools to open from Aug. 10 to enable SSS 3 students write their Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE).
The state Commissioner for Education, Dr Shehu Makarfi, said in a statement in Kaduna on Monday, that the directive was in compliance with the Federal Ministry of Education resolution for schools to open on Aug. 4.
This, according to Makarfi, is to enable final year students to write their West African Examination Council (WAEC), National Examination Council (NECO) and other certificate examinations.
“Gov. Nasir El-Rufa’i has approved Monday, Aug.10 as the resumption date for the SSS 3 students that are expected to begin their WAEC examination slated for Aug. 17.
“Therefore, the Ministry of Education is directing all school principals to arrange to receive SSS 3 boarding students on Aug. 9 and day students on Aug. 10.
“All administrators of public and private schools are to note that the one-week period commencing from today is to allow for necessary preparations and arrangements to meet COVID-19 guidelines for the opening of schools.
“Principals are to ensure compliance to agreed guidelines, which include reduced hours of work/revision to four hours per shift, social distancing in classes, laboratories, libraries and hostels,’’ he said.
He added that there should also be consistency in temperature monitoring and handing over of any suspected case of COVID-19 to health authorities.
He warned that no school should open before Aug. 10, except for boarding schools, where students are expected to arrive on Aug. 9.
The commissioner further directed private secondary schools in the state to report their readiness to open to the schools’ Quality Assurance Authority.
He said that private schools should report, using the appropriate checklist and obtain a written ‘no objection to open’, on clean bill of health.
He also asked that head of higher institutions and principals of secondary schools should report to the relevant department in the ministry.
He called on parents to ensure proper arrangement for safe transportation of their children to and from schools.
“To make the environment safe and conducive for academic activity, the government is doing everything possible to decontaminate and disinfect public schools, including higher institutions and provide hand washing facilities.
“We will also arrange for temperature monitoring of both staff and students, provision of face masks to staff and students, as well as hand sanitisers.
“However, parents are advised to equip their children with extra face masks and small 100ml hand sanitisers for use during their transportation to and from schools,’’ he added.
Makarfi said that appropriate dates for other examinations would be announced in due course, including school opening for the rest of the classes including SSS1, SSS2, JSS 1 to 3 and primary schools.
He encouraged schools to continue the e-learning programme using Google class, Zoom, radio and television and other online platforms until normalcy returned.
Edited By: Chioma Ugboma/Abdulfatah Babatunde (NAN)
The National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPs) on Tuesday called on state governments in Nigeria to follow the recommended guidelines by the Federal Ministry of Education for reopening of schools.
Its National President, Mr Yomi Otubela, also urged the state governments to call an emergency virtual meeting of all stakeholders in both public and private schools in their respective states.
“Enlightenment on what needs to be put in place, having taken cognisance of their state peculiarities to prevent the spread of COVID-19 pandemic in schools is very important.
“NAPPs appreciates the Federal and State Governments over their resolve to reopen schools as from Aug. 4 to allow SSS Three students to prepare for their forthcoming WAEC examinations.
“This is to eventually join their fellow counterparts in other West African countries to partake in the examination scheduled to commence on Aug. 17, 2020,” Otubela said.
He said that the news had cheered up the students, parents, teachers, school owners and other stakeholders who had shown concerns over the initial suspension of the examination.
“We also thank the Minister of Education and Minister of State for Education for their fatherly roles in listening to our concerns about the suspension and taking steps to resolve it amicably.
“NAPPS, as a responsible association, is fully ready to ensure that management of private schools takes safety as a priority in schools by ensuring that their staff, students and visitors to their schools adhere strictly to the safety protocols.
“There will be laid down guides by the schools management in line with the COVID-19 guidelines for the safe reopening of schools being recommended by the Federal Ministry of Education,” he said.
Otubela added that with schools reopening for exit classes students only, there would be an opportunity for the observance of physical distancing.
“More so is the fact that we shall use the opportunity of this resumption to assess the workability of safety protocols that are in place in schools.
“I hope that we can use its success to ensure other students fully resume as soon as possible,” he said.
Edited By: Vivian Ihechu/Olagoke Olatoye (NAN)
The Senior Special Assistant to the President, Malam Garba Shehu, has advised the publisher of SahareReporters, Omoyele Sowore, to desist from attacking late Isma’ila Isa Funtua over his encounters with security officials.
Shehu, who was reacting to comments by Sowore on late Isa Funtua in Abuja on Tuesday, condemned the way and manner Sowore was attempting to twist facts on what transpired between him and officials of the Department of State Services when he was in detention.
The presidential aide, who was part of the intervention team to `negotiate freedom for Sowore, said:
“Let’s get the facts straight on the meeting with Sowore in SSS detention.
“First, it is important to state that the meeting was not instructed by the government. Nobody sent anybody to go and “negotiate” Sowore’s freedom as he put it.
“The late Malam Isma’ila, on his own, called me to ask that I broker a meeting with him and two others with the SSS, which they agreed to.
“It is important that I state that it was the force of Malam Isma’ila’s argument that made the meeting possible.
“Vanguard Newspapers publisher, Sam Amuka and ThisDay Publisher and President, Nigerian Press Organisation, Nduka Obaigbena, all agreed that Sowore was a “rascal”, who had used his newspaper “to abuse all of us,” but agreed, nonetheless to go and press for his release.
“As the late Isma’ila put it, although he (Sowore) got into his problems due to politics, not journalism, the fact of him being a publisher imposed a duty on the media leaders to seek ways of making him free.’’
Shehu further explained that the meeting ended well, and contrary to the posturing by Sowore, “he said he was happy with a resolution proposed but that his lawyer, whoever that was, needed to come on board.
“The fence mending process, apparently collapsed after the meeting of the trio with the lawyer in Lagos.
“I don’t know what Sowore wants to achieve by distorting the facts of what transpired, but my advice to him is that he should stop his attacks on a dead, well-meaning intercessor.
“Knowing the way the secret service works, it should surprise no one if they keep a recording of that meeting.
“Faced with this posturing and the unfair attacks on the dead, we certainly will be forced to ask for the release of tapes, in case they are available for the public to judge.’’
Sowore, currently on bail, is facing trial on charges of treason, money laundering and “cyberstalking”.
Edited By: Wale Ojetimi (NAN)
The Ekiti State Government on Wednesday announced the change in resumption of students in graduating classes at both public and private schools from July 20 to Aug. 3.
The Commissioner for Education, Mr Foluso Daramola, gave this new date during a media chart in Ado-Ekiti.
Daramola said that the South-West states held virtual meeting where each state was told to plan for resumption of school..
He said that pupils in primary 6 and students in JSS 3, SSS 3 were to resume on the new date.
Daramola advised parents and guardians to provide three face masks each, for their children and wards, while government would make available all protective materials needed to fight COVID-19 to public schools.
The commissioner said that any private school with two gates must close one to control movement in and out of the school.
He also said that authorities of private primary and secondary schools should make available other materials required to contain the virus.
Daramola said government had also banned the use of school buses by private schools to convey pupils and students to their various schools, saying the action was in line with social distancing protocol.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the resumption was coming after four months closure by government, occasioned by the raging coronavirus pandemic.
Gov. Kayode Fayemi in June announced, via a statewide broadcast that the schools would reopen to graduating classes on July 20.
NAN reports that the governor had also said the school resumption would be in phases, starting with students in terminal classes (SSS3, JSS3 and Primary 6) to prepare for their exams while other classes would be gradually absorbed as schools meet all requirements to accommodate them.
Edited By: Chidinma Agu/Obike Ukoh (NAN)
Some stakeholders in the education sector have commended the efforts of the Oyo State government in ensuring safe environment for reopening schools for graduating classes in the state.
They gave their commendations in separate interviews with News Agency of Nigeria in Ibadan on Friday.
NAN recalled that primary six pupils, JSS III and SSS III students resumed revision classes towards their examinations on July 6.
Mr Kayode Adeyemi, the President, National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) Oyo State, said that it had been a very good development from all the reports available to the union.
“Everybody complied with the COVID-19 safety protocols and there has not been any issue whatsoever concerning the safety of the children.
“From the record of the inspection team in Oyo State it is obvious that reopening of schools has not added to the infection rate and there has not been any report so far on it.
“The students and teachers are happy to be back in school and everybody is on their beat awaiting all the exams and we trust God that the remaining arms will be opened soon,” Adeyemi said.
Also, Mr Tojuade Adedoyin, the state Chairman of Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) said that teachers were gradually adjusting to the situation.
“The various headmasters and principals have provided all the necessary materials and our students and pupils are happy to be back in school.
“To a certain extent we are happy with the government’s provision, though there is room for improvement,” he said
Adedoyin said that the union was liaising with the government on all other areas it thinks that the government should come in and improve.
“There are some schools where they don’t have the thermometer to measure the temperature of students and staff.
“So if the government can provide the thermometers or the running grants for the second term; the school managers will have the funds to fall back on to buy whatever they need for the running of the school,” he noted.
Prof. Clement Kolawole, the Chairman, School Governing Board of Estate High School, Bashorun, said that the system was stabilising and overcoming initial challenges.
“I found that the government took a good decision to reopen school for the category of those who have resumed now, although teachers are working harder and are making sacrifices to see that the reopening works, they deserve to be commended for their dedication,” Kolawole said.
Prof. Adams Onuka, an education evaluation expert, said that the government had done the needful by asking the graduating class to resume revision classes.
“To me, it’s a well-thought decision by the various governments; national and sub-national, it’s good that for a start, it has been restricted to the graduating classes,” he said.
Onuka said the decision would definitely boost students’ morale and lower their anxiety which could adversely affect those with high anxiety quotient and ultimately their performance.
He, however, urged parents and their wards to ensure that they do everything that can assure their safety of their children and protect them from contracting the pandemic or prevent them from spreading them.
“Parents and students must demonstrate the God-fearing spirit and have the interest of others at heart; that way nobody will become an agent of spreading the sickness,” Onuka said.
Prof. Oyesoji Aremu of the Department Guidance and Counselling, University of Ibadan, also said that school resumption of transition classes amid spikes of COVID-19 looks somehow scary.
“Nevertheless, management of classes and health of students and teachers are very important.
“While students may not be too much at risk, the teachers may not be too lucky if adequate provisions are not made by the government and leadership of the schools.
“While private schools may not be too much affected at least the standard ones among them, the same may not be said about some public schools begging for infrastructural attention long before the advent of the coronavirus pandemic,” Aremu said.
He said the situation was a wake-up call for government and schools’ proprietors and other stakeholders to, as a matter of importance and urgency, give hygiene a place it deserves in teaching and learning.
Aremu said the success or otherwise of school opening would determine whether or not other students and pupils would resume schooling on time.
“It means, COVID-19 protocols must be well entrenched in the course of teaching and learning, government officials and other stakeholders would therefore ensure strict compliance,” he said.
Edited By: Shittu Obassa/Kayode Olaitan (NAN)
COVID-19: FG lifts ban on inter-state movements as JSS 3, SSS 3 students to resume school
Movements
The Federal Government on Monday lifted the ban on inter-state movements across the country as students from Junior and Senior Secondary Schools would now be allowed to resume school.
Dr Sani Aliyu, Coordinator of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 disclosed this at its news conference in Abuja.
Aliyu said that though the current nationwide curfew would still remain, but added that movements across state boundaries could now take effect.
According to him, there is now permission of movement across state borders but only outside curfew hours with effect from 1st July.
He said that the JSS 3 and SSS3 students would resume to enable them prepare for their examinations that would allow them to another class
He also stated that civil servants within grade 14 and above must also resume with strict adherence to COVID-19 protocol, adding that the wearing of masks was now mandatory.
According to him, access to government premises will not be allowed without the use of face masks.
Aliyu explained that the nation wide curfew imposed from 10 p.m to 4 a.m was still valid.
He however, stressed that Aviation industry would resume operation as soon as practicable.
News Agency of Nigeria reports that the PTF had on June 27 embarked on a dry run test of the aviation.
The Minister of Aviation, Sen Hadi Siriki told newsmen that the airport was 90 per cent ready for operation, adding that with full compliance to protocol guiding COVID-19.
Edited By: Maureen Atuonwu (NAN)
