Some states in Nigeria have already announced dates to reopen schools before the federal government declared October 12 as the resumption date for all federal unity colleges.
The announcement of the resumption date by the federal government may spur states who have not yet fixed dates to get thinking, It has been over six months since schools were forcefully shut down in Nigeria to prevent the spread of the dreaded Coronavirus pandemic.
But, a little more than four months into the COVID-19 era, schools managed to reopen for exit classes only, to sit for senior and junior secondary certificate as well as common entrance examinations, Although, this did not stop some schools, especially privately owned from engaging their entire pupils and students in online classes and even exams.
Just before the exit classes examinations will be over, some states had announced the full reopening of schools, forcing the federal government to announce October 12 for her unity schools and by extension encouraging private schools and states yet to resume to do so.
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The Federal Government has pitched the decision to reopen schools on what it described as the flattened curve in the Covid-19 infection rate in Nigeria, While Osun, Oyo Lagos, Benue, Taraba, Anambra, Kogi, and Akwa Ibom states resumed in September, Rivers, Katsina, Nassarawa, Kwara, Delta, Bayelsa, and Niger states have fixed October 5 as resumption date, Schools in Edo State are also to reopen on October 6. The other States with resumption dates are October 11 for kano and October 12 for Yobe and Ondo States.
States yet to announce resumption dates include, Sokoto, Zamfara, Borno, Kaduna, Jigawa, Cross River, Kebbi, and The FCT. A few states have also asked tertiary institutions to resume, but the federal government on its part has only asked regulatory agencies to prepare for reopening with no date fixed yet.
The resumption of tertiary institutions may however be threatened by the ongoing ASUU strike and the threats by polytechnic and colleges of education teachers to downtools anytime institutions reopen, over their disagreement with IPPIS implemnetation.
While the wait goes on, many call on the ASUU and other academic and workers groups to reconsider their position to go on strike due to the already devastating impact of Covid-19 on the economy.
