The Nigeria Government may reopen schools after the ban on interstate travels had been lifted, this was made known by the Hon. Minister for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba.
Nwajiuba gave the hint while speaking during the Presidential Tax Force daily briefing on COVID-19 ON Monday in Abuja.
He reiterated that no date has been decided yet for reopening, as government continue to put all considerations in perspective as it concerns students safety.
The minister said, “We want to open when it is safe to do so, we have heard about neighboring countries that open and shut, we have heard about cases spiking with children getting into school. Of all the things I will like to do, I will not like to experiment with your children.
“We want a situation where once we are sure it is safe, we can then take them into school. “I had a meeting with the representatives of WAEC and NABTEB and I understand how that worries our parents at the moment and how anxious our children are to know what next.
“As soon as those in the charge of the blockade lift it because there is no way we can open our schools if teachers can’t come. So we are looking at somewhere after the interstate lockdown is lifted. Because we will need that kind of openness for the children to move.”
Nwajiuba in his Presidential Tax Force briefing 2 weeks ago, stated that government will be negotiating with other relevant bodies in June, to see the possibilities of returning students to school who have certification/ exit exams to write.
It is looking likely that Nigeria will join South Africa that reopens schools on Monday, despite rise in COVID-19 Cases.
It would be recalled that the Nigeria Government in March closed all schools indefinitely as part of measures to curtail the spread of coronavirus pandemic.
