COVID-19: LASG Announces September, 21, Schools Resumption Date; Excludes Pre-Primary Classes |The Source

By Akinwale Kasali

Lagos State Government has announced that Schools, both Public and Private, can  resume on September 21, 2020.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Folasade Adefisayo, who announced this, however exempted pre-Primary from re-opening.

Schools across the state were in March, 2020, shutdown in a bid to curb the further spread of the ravaging coronavirus disease.

The Head, Public Affairs, Lagos State Ministry of Education, Kayode Abayomi, in a statement on Sunday said the state would adopt a phased approach in opening public and private schools to meet with COVID-19 social distance rules and safety protocols.

“This phased approach to opening will enable public schools meet COVID-19 social distance rules and safety protocols, and will help us watch the behaviour of the pandemic as we gradually open up our schools.

“The present JSS 3 and SSS 2 students in public schools in the State are to resume classes from Monday, 21st of September, 2020.

“The resumption will permit the present JSS 3 students who are already in an exit class to revise and get adequately prepared for their forthcoming Basic Education Certificate Examination organised by the Lagos State Examination Board and scheduled between Tuesday, 6th, and Monday, 12th of October, 2020.

“The resumption will also afford the present SSS 2 students an opportunity to prepare effectively for their transition to SSS 3. The scheduled dates and venues for Entrance Examination into Lagos State Model Colleges will soon be announced by the State Examination Board.

“We assure parents that announcements for opening the other classes will occur as soon as we are certain of their safety. In the meantime, the unopened classes in public schools will continue their lessons on our various distance learning platforms (Online platform, radio, television and WhatsApp) while the next phase for physical resumption will be announced in due course,” the statement read.

However, the Commissioner said Private Primary and Secondary Schools in the State are permitted to resume from Monday, 21st of September, 2020.

She said the State Government strongly recommends and encourages school owners to put safety first and open in phases similar to the plans for public schools.

“Phased opening also includes strategies for staggered resumption in the mornings, classes on alternate days during the week and teaching through various distance learning methods.

“Schools must also comply with safety protocols and hygiene guidelines as instructed by the State Government through the Office of Education Quality Assurance (OEQA). The Office of Education Quality Assurance will continue to monitor and evaluate Schools’ preparedness.

“Please note that pre-primary classes and schools in both public and private schools will remain closed until further announcements are made,” the statement concluded.