SCHOOLS REOPENING READINESS – STAKEHOLDERS ADVOCATE STRICT MONITORING

Participants in a workshop organized by Federal Ministry of Education in collaboration with United Nations Children’s Fund UNICEF on,”Schools reopening readiness “, have advocated strict monitoring of schools to ensure compliance of covid-19 protocol.

Three of the participants, Mrs Stella Agu of Enugu state ministry of Health, chief Cletus Agbogu and Mrs Ijeoma Enujuba of Parents-Teachers Association, also of Enugu state, encouraged schools management to ensure that covid-19 protocols such as wearing of face masks, washing of hands with soap, as well as the use of alcohol based hand sanitizers are maintained.  They equally called on Federal government to assist state owned schools, as well as mission and private schools, to acquire Personal Protective equipment.

Earlier in his opening address, the minister of state for Education, Mr Chukwuemeka Nwajuba noted that the federal government would not hesitate to sanction schools that flout the covid-19 guidelines.

The minister who was represented by the Director of Library services in the ministry, Mr.Barnabas Awonandu, stressed that schools must co-ordinate with with relevant stakeholders, including health ministry.

In his submission the head of disease communication, Nigeria Center for Disease control, NCDC, Dr Yahaya Disu emphasised the need for strict adherence of covid-19 protocols in schools, adding that the pandemic is not what to be treated with levity.

Also making her presentation, an education specialist with UNICEF Enugu Field Office, Dr Agatha Nzeribe encouraged people to main covid-19 protocol, in addition to personal hygiene.