By Ummi Ismaeel, Minna
Niger State government has announced that all schools in the state would reopen on October 4 for the 2019/2020 third term.
The state government however declared that all second term examinations conducted under duress in the wake of the Coronavirus confusion stands canceled and ordered all teachers to return to their respective schools from Tuesday September 29 to commence preparations ahead of the reopening.
This was the conclusion reached during stakeholders meeting on resumption of non-exit classes for basic and secondary schools across Niger State.
The state Commissioner for Education, Hajia Hanatu J. Salihu, who announced the resolution, also explained that the ‘safe school reopening committee’ has submitted its final reports.
While the 19 northern state Commissioners for Educations met in Abuja on the way forward, Hajiya Hannatu said the north-central states stakeholders also met in Lafia, Nasarawa State and agreed to reopening modalities.
The commissioner further hinted that consultations were also made to discuss report of the Committee, while they came up with certain resolutions.
“Re-opening of all basic and post basic classes of public and private schools for third term of 2019/2020 academic for 4th October 2020 with exception of public boarding schools where only SS2 would resume on the same day using platooning model”.
According to the commissioner, “JSS 1 and 2 are to attend morning classes and SS 1 and 2 would attend evening classes. Public primary school schools 1-3 would attend morning classes while primary 3-6 would attend evening classes”.
Also, “Private schools are to open and operate in line with COVID-19 protocols while all the Tsangaya, Quaranic Islamiyat and faith-based schools would open and operate in line with same protocols”.
The commissioner explained that, first term for 2020/2021 will commence from Sunday 3rd January 2021 and therefore solicited for the support of all stakeholders to be up and doing ‘because the the task ahead is demanding’.
Reacting, Chairman, National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Mr Femi Isaac Alalade, commended the state government for its efforts at reopening of schools.
He however disclosed that most of the online programme conducted during the lockdown were not effective because the “pupils were not used to it”.
The NAPPS state chairman further hinted that there won’t be waivers or reduction on school fees for parents since they are going to complete the third term.
