Following the decision by the Federal Government to reopen schools for Exit Classes on 4th August, 2020, Kogi State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, FCIB, has announced that schools in the state, would reopen on 10th of August, 2020.
The Commissioner made this declosure after an emergency meeting with the critical stakeholders in education sector in the state on Tuesday in Lokoja.
The stakeholders include: ASUSS, NAPPS ANCOPPS, PTA, STETSCOM among others.
According to the Commissioner, the date was arrived at to allow for adequate measure to be put in place to guarantee safety of the students and teachers in compliance with the Covid-19 protocols.
The stakeholders at the meeting jointly resolved that WAEC Examination would commence on 17th of August, 2020, while schools in Kogi State would resume only for exit classes (Primary 6, JSS3 and SS3) on 10th of August, 2020.
They further resolved that all the intend examinations in the state will be announced later, while urging the eligible candidates for those exit exams to finalize their registration immediately.
However, NECO and NABTEB will meet to discussed on the dates of their exam very soon.
The stakeholders further agreed that all the NCDC Covid-19 protocols should be fully put in place at various schools’ entrance gates, such as: Running water and soap, hand sanitisers, fumigation of schools, social distancing, face shield, infrared, thermometer, isolation centres, among others.
The ministry would also set up a committee that will monitor and ensure that the protocols against Covid-19 is strictly adhered to.
The state’s Chairman of Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS), Comrade Ojo Ranti, appealed to the state Government to intensify its efforts to meet up with the requirements of the Covid-19 protocols in public schools to guarantee the safety of students and teachers before the date of resumption.
Also speaking, the state’s Chairman of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPs), Dr Habeeb Yaqeen, said that the State Government decision was a welcome development, and assured the ministry of their cooperation.
In his vote of thanks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Pastor Emmanuel Idenyi, expressed appreciation to the stakeholders for their responses to the meeting despite the short notice, and urged them to ensure strict compliance to all the resolutions at the meeting.
The Permanent Secretary further called on the parents and guardians to ensure that eligible candidates for the internal examinations, do their registration as soon as possible.