Richard Ginika Izuora
The federal Government, on Monday, announced that secondary schools would reopen on August 4 for exit classes only.
Director, Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Education, Ben Bem Goong, in a statement in Abuja, said the decision was reached at a virtual consultative meeting between the ministry, commissioners of education of the 36 states, Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), proprietors of private schools, and chief executives of examination bodies.
He said key stakeholders agreed that students in exit classes (SS3) should resume immediately after the Sallah break to enable them prepare for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) examinations scheduled to commence from August 17.
Goong explained that: “Stakeholders at the meeting also resolved that a passionate appeal be made to the Federal Government through the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 and public-spirited Nigerians for assistance to schools across the country to enable them fast-track the preparations for safe reopening, as agreed.”
He said another meeting would be convened today between the Federal Ministry of Education and chief executives of examination bodies, namely, NECO, NABTEB and NBAIS, to harmonise their examination dates, and the outcome would be conveyed to stakeholders.
Schools were ordered to shut down in March as part of measures to contain the spread of COVID-19.