UN condemns use of schools as isolation centres, IDP camps, military bases

The United Nations has condemned the repurposing of schools for use as markets, military bases, isolation centres and camps for internally displaced persons, IDPs, saying schools must remain safe places free of conflict and violence.

It also warned against further attacks on educational institutions and students, lamenting that between 2009 and December 2018, about 611 teachers were killed in the Northeast due to the wave of insurgency in the region.

In a statement marking the first International Day to Protect Education from Attack, the UN urged Nigeria to prioritise school safety as well as learners’ protection.

It said while 910 schools were destroyed in the region within the period, 1, 500 schools were forcefully closed, with 4.2 million children at the risk of missing out on an education.

Also, the Education in Emergencies Working Group (EiEWG) Nigeria, a platform of some Non-Governmental Organizations NGOs, UN agencies, academics, and other partners has said attacks on education is not limited to the damage of education buildings and facilities but include attacks on key education assets – the most precious assets being school children, teachers and non-academic staff without which education cannot happen.

“Beyond physical attacks, when due to fear, a student cannot go to school because it has become a place of danger causing the desire for school to become eroded, then education has been attacked psychologically. When a girl-child is afraid to go to school because the path to school is no longer safe and secure or due to a traumatic experience or knowledge of one, education has been attacked. When a vulnerable boy becomes exposed to recruitment into an armed group involved in a conflict or is used as a carrier of improvised explosive devices or to manufacture, transport and plant devices as recorded between 2018 to 2019 when 57 children with 45 being girls were used and killed as human bombs, education has been attacked”, the group was quoted in the statement.

The global body also urged states in Nigeria to incorporate building a resilient education system into their Covid-19 response plans in order to be able to withstand future shocks.

“The United Nations in Nigeria today said safeguarding education from attack is urgently needed to restore confidence in schools as places of protection for children and teachers. This is particularly pressing in light of COVID-19, which affected 46 million primary and secondary learners across Nigeria due to pandemic-related school closures.

“The protracted conflict in the north-east has had devastating impacts on education. From 2009 until December 2018, 611 teachers were killed and 910 schools damaged or destroyed. More than 1,500 schools were forced to close and some 4.2 million children in the north-east are at risk of missing out on an education. Hundreds of girls have been abducted, some even from their own schools, which are meant to be safe zones. Notably, many children have been used to act as carriers of person-borne improvised explosive devices. The attacks on schools, communities and education itself are tragic consequences of a protracted conflict that has left a generation of children traumatized”, the statement noted.

According to the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr Edward Kallon “as State Governments plan to reopen schools after prolonged closures, building a resilient education system to withstand future shocks should be included in pandemic response plans”.

He noted that prioritising safety in schools for educators and learners is an indication of the Government’s commitment to protecting investments in the education sector and a validation of Nigeria’s endorsement of the Safe Schools Declaration.

“While the world marks the first-ever International Day to Protect Education from Attack under the theme ‘Protect Education, Save a Generation’, more than three million children in the conflict affected states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe in north-east Nigeria are in need of education-in-emergency support.

“Education is essential to helping crisis-affected communities in the north-east rebuild and recover. Attacks on schools are a direct attack on future generations. I call on all parties to the conflict to take all necessary measures to protect education and give learners a chance to build a brighter future”, Mr Kallon said.

The statement quoted the United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres as stating that “as the world fights to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, children and youth in conflict zones remain among the most vulnerable to its devastating impact. We must ensure our children have a safe and secure environment in which to learn the knowledge and skills they need for the future”.

The UN also “vehemently condemned any and all attacks on education including abductions of school children, school-related gender-based violence, herders-farmers clashes, and repurposing of schools for use as isolation centres, IDP camps, markets or for military purposes”.

UNESCO Director-General, Audrey Azoulay, said “Schools must remain safe places, free of conflict and violence”.

He said; “Our collective future, as well as the achievements of all development goals, depend on it. Safeguarding the right to education for all contributes to the achievement of sustainable development and nurtures the international community’s decades-long gains towards peace, economic prosperity, and social inclusion worldwide”.

The statement noted that left unchecked, incessant attacks on schools and learners could reverse the gains on education investments made by government of Nigeria, the UN and other multilateral, bilateral, and private sector partners over the years.

“Attacks on schools are a violation of humanity and basic decency. We must not allow these senseless attacks to destroy the hopes and dreams of a generation of children. We must do all in our power to ensure that schools and the children and teachers within them are protected,’’ said Henrietta Fore, UNICEF Executive Director.

“As the world begins planning to re-open schools once the COVID-19 pandemic subsides, we must ensure that schools remain safe places of learning, even in countries in conflict.”

With school reopening plans underway in many states, the UN called for increased funding, noting that it would go a long way in mitigating the effects of prolonged school closures on learners, especially vulnerable children, including girls and others living with disabilities.

“In north-east Nigeria, education in emergency partners are appealing for $55 million USD to provide emergency education to 3.1 million conflict-affected children this year. So far this year, only $3.3 million USD, a mere 6 per cent of the total needed, has been received so far.

“The Government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic is an opportunity to build a resilient education system, invest in human capital and strengthen communities who act as first responders in the event of attacks on schools.

“To deliver for children in Nigeria, education must remain on top of the public agenda while Government should boost efforts to translate its vision for education into real change for children, especially the most vulnerable and disadvantaged learners”, it added

The Safe Schools Declaration is an inter-governmental political agreement that outlines a set of commitments to strengthen the protection of education from attack and restrict use of schools and universities for military purposes.

It seeks to ensure the continuity of safe education during armed conflict. To date, 104 countries around the world have joined this international political agreement.

Source: Today.ng

OGUN STATE OPENS SCHOOLS SEPTEMBER 21, STAGGERED SCHOOL HOURS

Ogun State Government has announced Monday, 21 September, 2020 for the reopening of schools in the state for the first term of 2020/2021 session in addition to the earlier resumption of students in SS3 who are currently writing the West African School Certificate Examination.

In a Press Statement issued in Abeokuta by Kunle Somorin, his Chief Press Secretary, Governor Dapo Abiodun announced that this second phase of the reopening of schools is extended to all classes in primary and secondary schools, Technical and Vocational Colleges, and Tertiary Institutions.  However, as part of the efforts to meet the COVID-19 guidelines for school operations, the schools hours are staggered as follows for public schools. 

• Primary 1 to primary 3​​​​8.00am    to 11.00am

• Primary 4 to Primary 6​​​​12.00noon to 3.00pm

• JSS 1 to JSS3​​​​​8.00am to 11.00am

• SS1 to SS3​​​​​12.00noon to 3.00pm

• Technical and Vocational will operate their normal school hours of 8.00am to 2.00pm

Early Child Care Development and Education classes i.e 3-5 years of age will not be resuming in public schools until the next phase of schools’ reopening.

• Private schools are also expected to take necessary measures to meet the COVID-19 protocols for physical distancing, among other requirements.

• Tertiary institutions are allowed to commence reopening from 21 September, 2020 as may be determined by their respective Management.

It should be noted that the government had earlier announced that all students had been given automatic promotion to the next class, including automatic placement for primary 6 students in public primary schools into JSS1 of public secondary schools. 

However, primary 6 students desirous of placement into the State-owned Boarding Schools will sit for the Common Entrance Examination on Saturday, 12 September, 2020.

The hitherto JSS3 students who have now been promoted to SS1 will write their Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in October, 2020.

The Statement emphasised that the COVID-19 guidelines earlier issued for reopening of schools are still in effect and include:

• Provision of Sick bays / Isolation rooms in schools.

• Training and designation of some teachers as first line responders

• Use of face masks

• Regular check of body temperature with infrared thermometers

• Provision of adequate hand washing facilities and alcohol-based sanitisers for students and teachers;

• Maintaining of physical distancing of 2 metres

• Decontamination of schools prior to resumption;

• Suspension of general assembly.

“Our approach to COVID-19 pandemic management has been deliberate, methodical, focused, inclusive and carefullybalanced between life and livelihood and this has manifested in the steps we have adopted to the reopening of schools, ensuring safety of our children whilst minimising disruption in their education. The guidelines are applicable to all schools in the state whether private or public. 

I have directed the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology to provide all public schools with the required items to meet the guidelines and private school owners are enjoined to do same. 

I chargeour students to take full benefits of the reopening of the schools for their education advancement and wish them a very fulfilling 2020/2021 academic year”, the Governor said.

e-signed

 

Kunle Somorin

Chief Press Secretary to the Governor

COVID-19: Principals Say FCT Schools Ready For Reopening

Principals of secondary schools in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) said safety measures have been put in place for students to resume classes.

The president, All Nigeria Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), FCT chapter, Alhaji Abdulkarim Abdulrahman, who made the statement, stressed that principals were satisfied with the arrangements put in place by the FCT Administration to ensure that students did not contract coronavirus when they resume.

He spoke during the distribution of 10,000 units of three-in-one protective equipment against COVID-19 for students across the FCT at Government Secondary School, Garki, Abuja.

Alhaji Abdulkarim insisted that principals were prepared for reopening as safety guidelines had been put in place.

“Coronavirus is not a threat to FCT schools because the principals have braced up for reopening of schools, especially with the necessary provisions by the administration.

“We are happy and set for commencement of classes because the FCT Administration, through the Education Secretariat has provided all the necessary medical materials needed to ensure safety in the schools,” he said.

He explained that the items, which were donated by Kas Arts Service Limited, would be shared based on zones and across schools under the Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB), Secondary Education Board (SEB) and Science and Technology.

According to the breakdown, schools under UBEB got 600 cartons of nose masks, sanitizer and face shields.

Resumption of intl flights: Their children want to start schools abroad – Sowore

Former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has said that Nigerian leaders have allowed international flights to resume only because it was time for their children and wards to return to schools abroad.

Sowore, the Publisher of SaharaReporters, said the government does not care about the people.

Recall that the Federal Government had yesterday approved the resumption of international flights with effect from August 29, 2020.

The Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, made this known, saying, “Glad to announce the resumption of international flights from the 29th of August, 2020.”

Reacting to the development, Sowore said, “They are happy to announce commencement of international flights because it is time for their children/wards to return to schools abroad, September is the resumption date for most schools abroad! Nobody is willing or happy to reopen schools here. #Theydontcareaboutus #RevolutionNow.”

Recall that the Federal government had in March banned international flights as one of its measures to tackle the spread of COVID-19 in the country.

WAEC reacts as Nigerian government cancels 2020 WASSCE Exam

WAEC reacts as Nigerian government cancels 2020 WASSCE Exam

The West African Examinations Council, WAEC, has recognized the decision of the Nigerian government to stop final year students from writing the 2020 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

Recall that the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, on Wednesday announced that SS 3 students in the country would not participate in the forthcoming examination.

He told State House Correspondents shortly after the week’s virtual Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting that the reason for the action was to keep the students from being exposed to COVID-19.

But in an interview on Thursday, WAEC’s Head of Nigeria’s Office, Patrick Areghan, said the exam body respects the decision of the government, saying it is within the legitimate power of governments of the five-member countries to make such decisions.

Areghan said the examination body was still reviewing the situation and that it would update the public as soon as final decisions are taken.

He said he could not speak on whether the examinations would continue in the other four countries or not until the “coast is clear.”

He said; “We cannot make any categorical statement for now. We are operating in five-member countries and we cooperate with the government. We recognise the fact that the government has the right and power to take positions, and we cannot confront the government. We work hand in hand with the government.”

Lagos schools resume Aug 3, churches, mosques remain closed‌, Ogun extends weekend lockdown by two weeks, schools to remain shut.

Lagos schools resume Aug 3, churches, mosques remain closed

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• Ogun extends weekend lockdown by two weeks

The Lagos State Government, on Friday, directed that schools should reopen on Monday, August 3, for only Senior Secondary School Class 3 and Technical Schools Class 3.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu stated this at the 16th briefing on the COVID-19 response at the State House in Marina, adding that pupils in Junior Secondary School Class 3 would need to wait for “about a week or two before resumption.”

Sanwo-Olu also sustained the ban on churches and mosques, as well as on social gatherings, while clarifying that the schools’ reopening was only for day schooling as boarding activities were prohibited.

For the Primary 6 pupils, the governor noted that they would be graded by their already recorded Continuous Assessment to cross over to secondary schools.

The Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 had on Monday approved the “safe reopening of schools in the next phase of the gradual easing of lockdown” ordered to stop the spread of the infection.

Sanwo-Olu, on Friday, announced the gradual reopening of the schools from August 3, directing students in transitional classes, with mandatory public exams ahead of them, to resume for revision classes and examination.

He said, “Students in transitional classes, who have mandatory public exams ahead of them, are now permitted to resume revision classes and examination. All education establishments are to follow established public health guidelines and protocols for reopening the schools for these categories of students. The commencement date for this opening will be August 3, 2020, for SSS 3 and TEC 3 students only. Dates for JSS 3 schools’ reopening for revision classes and examinations will be announced in due course.”

The governor added that churches, mosques, bars and other public places remained closed until further notice.

 

Meanwhile, the Ogun State Government has said it is sustaining the closure of schools, churches and mosques as COVID-19 cases reached 898 in the state with 270 active cases and 19 deaths on Friday.

The state government said this in statement by Kunle Somorin, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Dapo Abiodun, adding that one of the border local government areas had the highest number of cases.

The state added that it was sustaining the phase of eased restrictions for another two weeks, after which it would review and modify the guidelines.

“Schools are to remain shut. A committee has been set up to engage all stakeholders, public and private school owners, and develop guidelines for a safe reopening of our schools, especially to allow certificate classes to resume and sit for their examinations,” it said.

Schools must create isolation spaces and fully-equipped clinics before reopening – FG

The Federal Ministry of Education has directed schools to create isolation spaces and have fully-equipped clinics before the reopening of schools.

This was contained in the "Guidelines for schools and learning facilities reopening after COVID-19 pandemic closure", submitted to the National Assembly by the presidential task force on Tuesday, June 23.

According to the guidelines, each school is "expected to create temporary isolation spaces and fully-equipped clinics before reopening".

Schools are also expected to "establish a referral system, including protocols and procedures to take if learners, teachers, administrators, and other education personnel become unwell while in schools.'

The Ministry further stated in the document that any state wishing to reopen schools should "hold adequate consultations with the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 and the parents."

The guidelines also expect that proprietors construct additional structures and employ more teachers to ensure that they accommodate their students by adhering to the two-metre spacing system in classrooms.

It also mandated proprietors to seek "grants to procure soaps and buckets, ensure regular safe water supply, ensure a constant supply of learning and instructional materials, and pay salaries on time."

SCHOOL OWNERS: FOR SCHOOLS TO SURVIVE PRO COVID-19 PANDEMIC, THEY MUST DO THE FOLLOWING.

I feel you at this moment. Covid-19 has totally redesigned the world you know, the world you understand and the world in which you built your School from the scratch.

Unfortunately, that world appears to be slipping away from us all. 

It is not only you. The whole world is battling what we never imagined could happen. It appears almost surreal and unfortunately it does not have a terminal date.

When it all began, we all assumed that in a few weeks, things will go back to normal but it is obvious that normal is being redefined.

Getting online appears to be the only option but only a few Schools can confidently deliver great content at the moment. Parents are worried. They do not understand where all these will lead to . Will they need to pay money twice for this term, or what will they need to do.

Teachers are agitated. Salaries may not be paid.

Bank loans are hanging

Drivers,Cooks, Cleaners and  other support staff are being laid off.

Yes

We all know the numerous problems

As I reflect on the present crisis, I am telling myself, the Schools that will survive in the years ahead will need to do things differently. I almost panicked when I heard that an all Boys school based in India will be taking off here in September and everything is online. This is certainly the beginning.

Let me paint another scenario. Good  Teachers are discovering a new world. A world of possibilities.

They may no longer be ready to work for just a School

For parents too, Covid 19 is giving them options. Some may choose to learn more about home schooling in the days ahead. They are working with you to ensure their children are learning and they themselves are getting to understand things better.

There are several scenarios that can happen and I hope to capture more in the days ahead

The School that will survive must offer much more than just the stereotype that we have been used to.

1 Communication and a great feedback system will become very critical 

2 Flexibility 

 3. Creativity 

 4. What are the lessons we are learning at a time like this. How can it be built into a curriculum that will teach children how to survive in an unpredictable world . 

 5. The School that will survive must create a culture that will bring home  life’s reality to children.

 6. The School that will survive must be ready to do things differently to ensure you get the best from your Team. Why not think of stock options for Teachers who stay for a certain number of years 

 7. Your School must be ready in a tangible way to offer much more than ensuring children get good grades.

What does the “ New normal” have for us . Only time will tell. Schools that will survive must be ready to offer what parents and students can never get online....you need to discover what that extra edge will be for your school.

You need to assess once more your value proposition and ensure it is relevant in a post - Covid world .

Yes, we will all go through it and survive but ...the time to think through things is now.

Are u an eyewitness? And you want your story to be published

Send your stories to:

Whatsapp number:- +2348161164458

Email:- olamipaul@gmail.com

ANAMBRA STATE GOVERNMENT HAS ORDERED THE RESUMPTION OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS

Due to Covid-19 pandemic, all states of the federation was in lockdown untill the ease of the lockdown by the president but did not mention resumption date for schools.

Anambra state government orders primary and secondary Schools in the state to resume.

Due to the situation of the country with the pandemic, the commissioner of education of the state Said teachers must maintain social distance in the class, also the teachers should make sure the students comply with the order and their sitting arrangement should be 6 Away from each other.

The headmasters and headmistresses said in a situation where by they have 40 students in a class and and the space is not enough for the 6 feet distance for sitting arrangement ordered by the commissioner of education and  there is no alternative class for them to use, how can the order work with the situation.

Also some parents are scared of the Corona virus pandemic and refuse to send their children or wards to school and some students are also scared of resume because there is no any other state that have resume yet therefore they want to stay at home till other states announce resumption for primary and secondary Schools.

Are u an eyewitness?

Send your stories to:

Whatsapp number:- +2348161164458

Email:- olamipaul@gmail.com