The Nasarawa State Government has said that no date has been fixed for reopening of schools in the state for transiting students due to the COVID-19 pandemic currently ravaging the world.
Hajiya Fatu Sabo, the State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, said this when she presented the ministry’s performances before the state House of Assembly’s Committee on Education, Science and Technology on Thursday in Lafia.
Sabo said that the date for school resumption would be communicated when the state government had ensured that the environment was safe to do so.
According to her, the Federal Government is working on the modalities for reopening of schools in the country.
“One of the modalities is to first make the school environment safe for our students, teachers and parents due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“For now, there is no particular date yet for school reopening in the state.
“We are urging principals, students, parents and other stakeholders to take note until official pronouncement on school reopening is made.
“There are lots of things that need to be done before schools can reopen, which include the sensitisation of students, teachers and parents on COVID-19 protocols.
“Training of our staff and provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), among others, must be in place for our students to remain safe due to COVID-19,” the commissioner said.
She commended the committee for supporting the activities of the ministry and called for its sustenance.
Responding, the Chairman of the committee, Mr Daniel Ogazi, said that the committee invited the ministry in order to assess the ministry’s 2020 budget performance.
Ogazi urged the ministry to ensure merit in posting of head teachers and principals for the overall development of the education sector.
He also urged the management of the ministry to hasten the full payment of salaries to newly-engaged teachers.
He commended the commissioner and other management staff and assured of the committee’s readiness to support the ministry to succeed.
