By Okosun Dennis
The Commissioner for Education, Lagos State, Mrs Folasade Adefisayo has announced the plans for both Public and Private Schools resumption in the State after the lockdown of schools as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a statement signed by the Head, Public Affairs, Ministry of Education, Kayode Abayomi, congratulated the SS3 students for successfully completing their WASSCE exams and urge them to stay safe even as they await their results.
In the plans released on Sunday for reopening for a new 2020/2021 academic session, the public schools are expected to resume as in a phased pattern.
The Ministry is adopting a phased approach to opening public schools to meet COVID-19 social distance rules and safety protocols which would help the ministry watch behaviour of the pandemic as schools resume.
The present JS3 and SS2 students in public schools in the State are to resume classes from Monday, 21st of September, 2020.
The resumption would permit the present JS3 students who are already in an exit class to revise and get adequately prepared for their forthcoming Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) organized by the Lagos State Examination Board which is scheduled between Tuesday, 6th and Monday, 12th of October, 2020.
The resumption will also afford the present SS2 students an opportunity to prepare effectively for their transition to SS3.
The scheduled dates and venues for Entrance Examination into Lagos State Model Colleges will soon be announced by the State Examination Board.
The Commissioner, therefore, assured parents that announcements for opening the other classes will occur as soon as we are certain of their safety.
In the meantime, the unopened classes in public schools will continue their lessons on our various distance learning platforms (Online platform, radio, television and WhatsApp) while the next phase for physical resumption will be announced in due course.
For the Private Primary and Secondary Schools in the State, Mrs Adefisayo reiterated that they are also permitted to resume from Monday, September 21, 2020.
She, however, stated that the State Government strongly recommends and encourages school owners to put safety first and open in phases similar to the plans for public schools.
Part of the statement by the Commissioner stated, “Phased opening also include strategies for staggered resumption in the mornings, classes on alternate days during the week and teaching through various distance learning methods.
“Schools must also comply with safety protocols and hygiene guidelines as instructed by the State Government through the Office of Education Quality Assurance (OEQA). The Office of Education Quality Assurance will continue to monitor and evaluate Schools’ preparedness.
Mrs Adefisayo warned that at the moment, pre-primary classes and schools in both public and private schools will remain closed until further announcements are made.
The State Government also used the opportunity to remind schools that the pandemic is still with us and we must in all situations, make the safety of our children, teachers and parents and our community as a whole our first priority.
https://any.peopleandpowermag.com/lagos-schools-to-resume-academic-session-21st-september/
