The South-East Governors forum has reached a resolution to conduct compulsory COVID-19 test on teachers in all schools in the zone before reopening schools.
The Governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi, who is the chairman of the forum, disclosed this to newsmen after a virtual meeting of the forum in Abakaliki on Sunday.
The meeting was also attended by some National Assembly members from the Zone, Ohaneze Ndigbo leaders and other stakeholders.
Umahi hinted that, there were fears for kindergarten and primary school pupils who do not understand what is social distancing.
“This is because they love themselves and must always stay together and a part of the protocols of the Nigeria Center for Disease Control is that people must wash their hands with running water.
“How many of our schools have running water and how many sanitizers have been provided for them” he asked.
He noted that it is the rainy season and most schools are bushy due to abandonment since the coronavirus outbreak.
He revealed that the forum would review school infrastructure to support Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) guidelines ahead of the Federal Government decisions on reopening.
“We will then receive our position and tell our people the safest time to reopen schools with our health workers to enforce the NCDC protocols” Umahi added.
The Ministry of Education is currently holding talks with the West Africa Examination Council and Stakeholders in the education sector, in order to reach a consensus on a framework for the reopening of school for graduating/ exit students preparing for WASSCE.
Meanwhile, the Presidential Tax Force (PTF) on COVID-19 are expected to make a definite statement this week, on school reopening, when they will be briefing journalist as they review the COVID-19 situation.
