ALL RETURNING SS3 BOARDING STUDENTS

OGUN MAKES COVID-19 TEST FREE FOR

The State has been very apprehensive about the issue of school opening even for exit students. Data from other countries, where schools have resumed show that community transmission in school environments is a major concern. Even countries with strongerhealth care facilities than ours are being very cautious.

In line with the Federal Ministry of Education recommendation and WASSCE timetable, we decided to open our schools on the 4thAugust 2020 for SS3 students only. We put in place guidelines that would ensure that our students resume in a safe environment.

In our pre-opening engagements with stakeholders, opening of boarding houses was discussed. Our State has one of the largest population of boarding students in the country, coming from all over the Country. After consultations with health professionals, we concluded that testing the children for COVID-19 before admittance will reduce the risk of community transmission. This is to reassure parents and even teachers of the safety of everybody concerned.

The State planned and provided testing, free of charge, for boarding students in our public schools and allowed for the management and parents of private schools to make their arrangements to get COVID tests. The two Ogun State run laboratories have a capacity for about 500 tests a day and conduct free tests for traced contacts or symptomatic patients. To meet the additional demand for the expected number of boarding students, the statement from the Ogun State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology listed some private test centers which set up sampling points in some of our Health facilities.

These private laboratories have been accredited by NCDC and Lagos State Government for walk-in tests and charge N50,400 per test but I understand that the Ministries of Health and Education negotiated this to N25,000 for boarding students in private schools that may wish to use them. There is no financial benefit to the State Government.

After reviewing these developments, I have today immediately directed that the Government Laboratories carry out test for all returning SS3 boarding students at no cost. I have also directed that all those who have paid for tests be refunded. 

The health of our children remains our utmost priority, however in view of the total number of boarding students to be tested (5,340private and 500 public), and bearing in mind the limitation of our installed testing capacity of 500 tests per day, it may not be feasible for all boarding students to get tested and get their results prior to resumption or even exams which commence on 17th August 2020. 

Consequently the State Government has therefore stepped down the COVID-19 test as a mandatory requirement for returning students in our exit classes. We therefore enjoin Private School owners toexercise their duty of care to their pupils. The admittance of students into boarding house in private secondary schools will be at the discretion of the management and the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) of such private schools. 

Ogun State Government recommends that students who do not have to stay in the boarding house should attend school from home, especially those with underlying health conditions. 

I have also directed the provision of face masks to all students inboth private and public schools.

The inconvenience and confusion experienced yesterday is highly regrettable and my sincere apologies to the parents and students so affected.

The quality and standard of education and well being of our children are issues that are very dear to my heart.

I appreciate the cooperation, support, resilience and understanding of all the people of Ogun State towards flattening the curve of COVID-19 in Ogun State. It is my prayer that this phase will end soonest.

“Igbega Ipinle Ogun, ajose gbogbo wa ni o.”

Prince Dapo Abiodun, MFR, 

Governor of Ogun State, Nigeria. 

25,000 COVID 19 Test: Voice of Ogun Women joins Parents to say: NO.

The Voice of Ogun Women,  VOW, a Non Governmental Organisation of women of Ogun state origin either by birth or marriage is concerned over the current reported request by the Ogun State Government that Secondary School boarding students are to  pay for Covid tests before resumption.

The State Government in anticipation for the resumption of academic activities for students in exit classes nationwide starting from Monday, August 3,  had  in  a statement released on  August 1, by Mrs.Ronke Soyombo, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Primary and Secondary, mandated all students in boarding houses to undergo Malaria and COVID-19 tests as condition for admission into their various boarding houses.

Much as we appreciate the untiring efforts of the State Government to stem the spread of the virus  and restore a near normal situation in the State, VOW, is of the the view that there should be parity in Government Policies as they affect children in both Private and Public Schools in the State.

Any policy that has the semblance of discrimination must not be promoted by the government. 

We may ask why  parents whose source of income had been seriously affected in the last 6 months should be further burdened by government; Whereas some category of elite citizens who could afford to pay for the test and  treatment got tested and treated for free.?   Why should  the SS3 boarders, who are bonafide children  of the state,who are entitled to healthcare, now  pay for COVID 19 tests... This to us is an example of an  anti people policy by the present administration of Ogun State..

If we may further ask,...What would be Government's way of palliative to Children as beneficiaries of the various in flow of huge resources both financial and material.

Little wonder why the general populace is taking the matter of the pandemic with levity and unseriousness. .

The Ogun State Women as Mothers are in support of parents with children in SS3 on their stand not to pay 25k for Covid test ..We therefore join the parents to plead with Governor Dapo Abiodun to override this directive and allow ALL our children in the state be tested FREE OF CHARGE  as part of Government Public Health and Social Welfare  Responsibility Programme for Children of Ogun State ..This  will sum up  to government's effort in building  a heathy and vibrant future for our children.

The Voice of Ogun women argued that owners of schools as Small Scale Businesses should even be considered for tax holiday saying after all the schools pay Annual Renewal Fees to the State Government.

The Voice of Ogun  Women concluded by urging Governor Dapo Abiodun to quash this unpopular and ill thought out directive carried out by the Education Adviser and the Health Commissioner.             

 Signed: Doyin Ogunbiyi Convener

“It Is Unacceptable” Obasanjo Condemns N25,000 COVID-19 Test Fee On Parents

The former president of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has vehemently condemned the N25,000 Covid19 test levy imposed on private schools parents by the Ogun state government as part of criteria for safe reopening of schools in the state. 

The erstwhile President made his position known in a letter made available to journalists. 

He explained that such decision by the state Government is insensitive and inconsiderate, specially at this time where COVID-19 has affected so many homes financially and otherwise. 

He called on Governor Abiodun to revisit his decision maintaining that it is unacceptable.

NLC react to the #25,000 Covid–19 test

The attention of Nigeria Labour Congress has been drawn to the directive by Ogun State Government directing SSS3 boarding Students in Private Secondary schools in the State to undergo a compulsory COVID-19 test at the cost of Twenty-Five Thousand  (#25,000.00) Naira while government bears the cost of students in Public Secondary Schools.

The Congress is shocked, that the State Government can contemplate any measure or policy that will further add to the burden of the Citizenry and Parents in this instance, bearing in mind the Socio-Economic which Nigerians are grappling with as a result of COVID-19 Pandemic. The action of government portrayed her as being insensitive to the plight of its Citizenry, especially when we compare this with what is done in other climes, where their governments introduced many palliative measures and even cash grant to families, to cushion the effect of the Pandemic.

We, therefore, condemn in strong terms, the introduction of dichotomy and discriminating policies between Students of Public and Private Schools in the State, as we found no moral justification whatsoever for this practice. If testing for COVID-19 must be done for any category of students, it should be free for all students irrespective of whether they are in Public or Private Schools.

We hereby call on His Excellency, the Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun MFR to immediately step-in-to the matter and direct immediate reversal of this directive, and ensure that no student in the State is discriminated against on the basis of attending private school.

We also call on the government to be alive to its responsibilities by ensuring adequate provision of necessary tools, equipments and other consumables for safe re-opening of schools, this call becomes imperative to maintain and promote the existing industrial peace and harmony in the State.

Students Who Haven’t Paid Third Term School Fees Will Not Write Exams -FG

The Federal Government has said that students in Junior Secondary School (JSS) 3 and Senior Secondary School (SSS) 3 may not write their exams if their third term school fees are not paid.

Schools were shut down across the country in March 2020 to guard against the spread of COVID-19, resulting in massive disruption of the normal third term’s academic activities.

In a statement released by the Director of Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Education, Mr Ben Goong, students in exit classes- JSS3 and SSS 3, who are expected to resume on Monday (today) must show evidence of school fees payment.

The West African Examination Council (WAEC-SSCE) will start on the 17th of August, 2020 while the National Business and Technical Examination Board, (NABTEB) examinations will start on the 21st September and end by 15th October, 2020.

The Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) for SS3, conducted by NECO will start on the 5th of October and end on 18th of November, 2020.

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The Basic Education Certificate Examinations, (BECE) for JSS 3 also conducted by NECO, will start on the 24th of August and end on the 7th of September, 2020.

The National Common Entrance Examination, (NCEE) which is a one-day examination for intending applicants into Unity Colleges (JSS1) will start on 17th, October 2020.

Ahead resumption today, FG disinfects 19,000 unity schools

Senior Secondary 3 students trekking to School after the federal government lifted the COVID-19 lockdown for them to resume classes in preparation for the forthcoming exam by the West African Examinations Councils at Ijaye Ogba road in Agege, Lagos yesterday

The Federal Ministry of Environment in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education has commenced decontamination of 19,000 unity schools in preparation for their resumption.

The Minister of Environment, Dr. Mohammed Mahmood Abubakar, while briefing newsmen in Kaduna, said the collaborating ministries had put in place a sustainable system which would protect the health of learners and their caregivers’ at all educational levels.

WASSCE: Lagos Secondary schools resume amidst COVID-19

School resumption: FG decontaminates 19,000 exam centers

While re-assuring parents of the safety and well-being of their wards, he urged them to ensure they were properly kitted with face masks during the examination.

“Starting with the Federal Government Colleges (Unity schools) and then some of the schools that will host the Senior School Certificate Examination, numbering about 19, 000, whereas the unity schools will be subjected to thorough decontamination/disinfection in the coming days immediately after the Eid-el-Kabir break.

Our personnel would be mounting surveillance in some of the examination centers.

“This will include decontaminating examination halls at the end of every examination session. As with the decontamination and disinfection previously embarked upon by the ministry, this time around, it will entail the use of friendly and globally accepted formulations-friendly to the environment and people,” he said.

Also, the federal government yesterday confirmed that all the 104 Unity schools across the country were ready for reopening for exit classes today (Tuesday) in compliance with its earlier directive to enable final year students prepare for their examination.

As part of measures to this effect, various states yesterday rolled out guidelines aimed at mitigating the spread of the CVID-19 pandemic.

While all returning students are to undergo temperature checks among other protocols before being admitted into their schools, temperature tests are also expected to be carried out on students, it was gathered.

The Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, after a meeting with Commissioners of Education of the 36 states of the Federation via the Zoom platform yesterday, lauded Principals of Unity Colleges for the comprehensive preparation put in place for resumption.

The Director, Press and Public Relations of the Ministry, Ben Bem Goong, in a statement said during the meeting, the Commissioners reported varying degrees of preparation and readiness for reopening between the 4th and 10th of August, 2020 for virtually all schools within their jurisdictions.

He noted that from Monday (yesterday), the Minister of State for Education, Permanent Secretary and Directors had embarked on an assessment tour of all Unity Colleges to ascertain and confirm the reports they received from the Principals of Unity Colleges.

FCT

Schools in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are set to resume classes for exit students but Daily Trust findings have revealed that most of the schools are yet to put in place safety measures.

Our reporter, who visited some primary and secondary schools in the territory, observed that none of the schools have been decontaminated.

In LEA Science Primary School Abaji, there was no indication that fumigation was carried out while Junior Secondary School, Kekeshi, in the area was also not fumigated.

Also in Kwali Central Primary School and Government Secondary School at Oversea Quarters, there was no sign of decontamination of the schools.

The chairman of the FCT wing of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) Comrade Stephen Knabayi, said no school has been fumigated, saying ” as I am talking to you right now, we are still holding meeting with regards to the issue of the fumigation of schools and other NCDC guidelines for schools resumption.

But according to a statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of the FCTA’s Education Secretariat at 7:00pm yesterday, the FCTA said it carried out the fumigation of secondary schools, as well as made available facemasks, hand sanitizers and infrared thermometers for use in the schools.

The statement said the Chairman, FCT Secondary Education Board, Hon. Yahaya Musa Muhammad, briefed newsmen about the development  yesterday.

Rivers

In Rivers State, COVID-19 hygiene kits purchased by the state government were distributed to 257 public schools last weekend in line with the guidelines for the resumption of schools.

Governor Nyesom Wike said the sanitary and hygiene kits which include hand sanitizers, gloves, face masks, detergents, running water buckets, and disinfectants were part of government’s effort to ensure that students were not infected with the coronavirus as they return to school for their exit examinations.

The governor urged the Principals to ensure the proper utilization of the kits by sanitizing their school environment and also follow the necessary COVID-19 protocols.

Lagos

Our reporter who monitored resumption in some schools in Lagos State observed that both public and private schools were open to final year students.

At Agidingbi Senior Grammar School along Lateef Jakande road, our reporter observed a banner welcoming the students back from COVID-19 lockdown and also asking those with fever, cough or shortness of breath not to enter the school premises.

From the gate, students, teachers and visitors’ temperature were checked by the security with an infrared thermometer while they were asked to use hand sanitizers before going into the school premises.

A staff of the school who spoke on ground of anonymity told our reporter that there was over 60percent turn out of students to school on the first day of resumption, saying about 70 out of the 120 SS3 students were present in school.

An SS3 students at the Agidingbi senior grammar school, Eze Blessing expressed happiness over school resumption, saying, it would help her prepare better for her examination. “At the moment, I am about 70per cent prepared for the WASSCE but with the resumption, I will do better because there is power in collaboration and learning under a tutor amidst colleagues,” she said.

 Kwara

The Kwara State government on Monday gave out 65,000 face masks for distribution across schools ahead of Wednesday’s resumption of students preparing for the secondary school certificate examinations.

A statement by the spokesperson for the state technical committee on COVID-19, Rafiu Ajakaye said the face masks are to be distributed to senior secondary class three (exit) students as part the government’s efforts to flatten the curve of COVID-19 transmission in Kwara State.

Presenting the face masks to the Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Hajia Bisola Ahmed for onward distribution to SS3 students, Deputy Governor and Chairman of the Kwara State Technical Committee on COVID-19, Kayode Alabi said, “This is the first phase as we are also giving out sanitizers while the ministry of education, working with the committee and stakeholders in the sector, has been mandated to ensure that safety rules are adhered to.”

Plateau

Our correspondent who went round some public and private schools alike observed that there were no sign of hand washing materials at the entrances of schools just as the security men had no thermometers to check people’s temperature.

It was gathered that the schools had been asked to provide all the necessary equipment for themselves, as the authorities vowed to go round the schools to ensure compliance with the measures.

A teacher with Government Secondary School in Tudun Wada, Jos, who preferred anonymity said they were told that COVID-19 materials would not be immediately available due to lack of funds.