Nigeria issues guidelines on how to reopen schools

The federal government of Nigeria has issued guidelines on how to safely reopen primary and secondary schools and universities.

There is no immediate date set for pupils to return back to school, but the announcement comes as a welcome relief to many who are desperate to leave lockdown.

This comes after a major breakthrough was achieved in the fight against Covid-19 by UK pharmaceutical researchers who found that dexamethasone, an inexpensive and widely available drug, can prevent critically ill patients from dying of the disease.

Many schools and public places have a long way to go in terms of making their institutions safe for the general public.  

Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba announced the guidelines for schools in Abuja yesterday.

He said, "All institutions must have hand-washing facilities; body temperature checks; body disinfectants at all entering points to their major facilities, including the gates, hostels, classes, offices, etc; the whole premises of each institution must be decontaminated; all efforts must be geared toward maintenance of the highest level of hygiene and institutions must ensure social and physical distancing in class sizes and meeting spaces."

Mr Nwajiuba also warned schools not to open pre-emptively, however, without the adequate measures in place.

He said, "While we look forward to easing the lockdown, which will ultimately lead to re-opening of our campuses, I urge all the heads of institutions not to wait till the announcement on reopening before putting in place all necessary measures in compliance with the protocols and advisories of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control".

Until the federal government can be certain that all schools in regional areas are following the guidelines, schools will be forced to remain closed.  

Photo: Nigeria Health Watch