COVID 19: Bauchi Govt reopens Schools October 12

After spending six months at home, due to the Corona virus pandemic, the Bauchi State Government has directed students of primary and secondary schools in the state to reopen on October 12, 2020 to complete the 2019/2020 academic session.

This was disclosed by the state’s Commissioner for Education, Dr Aliyu Tilde, during a press conference at the ministry’s Secretariat, in Bauchi.

The commissioner explained that the resumption is subject to the compliance of COVID 19 regulations on school reopening.

He said given the low cases of COVID-19 reported in the country and the pressure from parents and councilors of the side-effects of prolonged school closure, some states like Lagos, Kogi, Taraba and Plateau had reopened their schools fully or partially.

According to the commissioner the development led to the meeting of School Exchange Program where Commissioners of Education of the 19 Northern states to discuss among other things, the issue of reopening of schools and Calendar last week in Abuja, where a decision was taken, subject to the approval of the state Governors that schools will be opened between now and 30th October 2020.

It stated that, the decision to reopen schools was taken at a stakeholders meeting, which had in attendance, representatives from the ministry of education, health, SUBEB, Bauchi State Agency for nomadic Education, Special Schools Management Board, Nigeria Association of Private Schools amongst others.

“At the meeting, the stakeholders resolved that no school should resume unless it meet the conditions stipulated in the schedule, which implies that not all schools may resume on the 12th of October. In Bauchi state, the school COVID 19 reopening template which was used to reopen the SS3 classes in the month of August, will be expanded to cover other classes.”

“That all schools with low population can resume fully and run their usual school hours since social distance can be achieved while observing other COVID 19 school protocols.”

“Also, parents will provide face masks for their children on all school days and schools under the ministry of education are to use the N700 per child PTA charges to provide Infrared Thermometer, COVID 19 buckets and soaps while the ministry takes care of the fumigation.”

“Schools under SUBEB and private schools can charge N200 per child for the provision of Infrared Thermometer, COVID 19 bucket, soap and decontamination. That all schools should contract decontamination to BASEPA, which will issue a certificate to that effect.”

“No school should reopen without prior decontamination subject to BASEPA. The school 2019/2020 school calendar will continue till the end of this year and a new school year begins on the 4th of January 2021 and ending in August 13, 2021”, he stated.