Ikenna Atanah
Katsina State government has directed the re-opening of six boarding schools that were shut down after 344 students of the government Science Secondary School, Kankara, were abducted fifteen weeks ago.
The directive was issued by the state’s Commissioner of Education, Badamasi Charanchi, on Tuesday.
Charanchi noted that the reopening will take-off from Sunday, March 28, for the continuation of the 2020/2021 academic session.
The state government had ordered the closure of all boarding schools in the state following the abduction of the schoolboys on December 11.
In the communiqué, the Katsina government said the six schools to include: Government Unity Secondary School, Malumfashi; Sir Usman Nagogo College of Arabic and Islamic Studies (SUNCAIS); Katsina Government Girls Secondary School; Dutsin Safe Katsina Government Girls Arabic Secondary School Dutsinma; Government School for the deaf, Malumfashi, and Government School for the blind, Katsina State.
The state government, however, directed female pupils to resume on March 24 at boarding schools nearest to them.
Charanchi warned that COVID-19 protocols must be strictly adhered to by students, staff, and visitors.
On February 28, the state government directed the reopening of four boarding schools in the state with effect from March 2.
The Commissioner further disclosed the state has about 38 boarding schools.