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It has been around 100days since the Federal Government announced closure of schools in the country as part of measures to curtail the spread of Corona virus. The Ministry of Education on different occasions, hinted on possibly of school reopening, but this not far from uncertain.
According to UNESCO , 100 countries have not yet announced a date for schools to reopen, 65 have plans for partial or full reopening, while 32 will end the academic year online.
The decision to reopen school is one of the most toughest political and most sensitive decision to take as the health of Students could be on the line. With the numbers of COVID-19 cases increasing sporadically, the question amongst stakeholders is if reopening schools would be safe at this time. Also, the risk of transmission is another thing to worry about.
Different World bodies like UNESCO have advised countries to start making plans to reopen schools even if it cannot Announce a date yet. The Ministry of Education has on different occasion despite the current uncertainties started making plans for schools reopening.
The Minister of State of Education on the 16th of June while speaking at the 2020 JAMB policy meeting held in Abuja, revealed certain conditions for schools to reopen.
According to the minister all institution must provide hand washing facilities, body temperature checks, body disinfect at all entrying point, decontamination of premises, maintenance of hygiene and physical distancing. The minister also in another document submitted to the National Assembly revealed that all institution must have an isolation centre.
While these conditions are the right step in the right direction, one will begin to wonder if they are achievable. Schools without water meaningful water supply will now have to grapple with the difficulty of supplying water to ensure frequent handwashing . Also the overpopulation of school hostels is quite worrisome. A room designed to accommodate 4-5 occupants, is occupied by up to 10 Students.
Sights of crowdy classrooms and lecture halls is not strange in Nigeria at all levels as the government have little or no interest in education. For example Lecture halls meant to take 100 students is occupied by up to 200 students with little or no proper ventilation
Certainly, the longer schools are closed, the longer time is wasted and Nigerian students are faced with greater socio-economic risk. According to the World Bank the pronlonged school closures will exacerbate inequalities, deepen the learning crisis and expose the most vulnerable students to heightened risk of exploitation".
In conclusion, reopening schools must be in the best interest of Nigerian students. This also is a wake up call for the government at different levels to build an educational system that is better prepared to face health crisis like this and protect funding for education.
