By Our Correspondent in Minna
Niger state government has announced that all schools in the state would be reopening on October 4 for the 2019/2020 third term.
Niger state Commissioner for Education, Hajia Hanatu J. Salihu, disclosed this while announcing the resolution of the stakeholders meeting on resumption of non-exit classes for basic and secondary schools across Niger state.
The commisdioner explained that the ‘safe school reopening committee’ had submitted its final reports.
She declared that all second term examinations conducted under duress in the wake of the Corona virus confusion stands canceled and ordered all teachers to return to their respective schools from Tuesday September 29, to commence preparations ahead of the reopening.
Saliu said that the 19 northern state Commissioners for Education met in Abuja on the way forward, adding that the north-central states stakeholders also met in Lafia, Nasarawa state, and agreed on opening modalities on the issue.
The Commissioner hinted that various consultations were made to discuss report of the Committee while the commissioners came up with certain resolutions which include:
“Re-opening of all basic and post basic classes of public and private schools for third term of 2019/2020 academic for 4th October 2020 with exception of public boarding schools where only SS2 would resume on the same day using platooning model.
“JSS 1 and 2 students are to attend morning classes and SS 1and 2 will attend evening classes. Public primary school schools 1-3 will attend morning classes while primary 3-6 would attend evening classes”.
“Private schools are to open and operate in line with Covid19 protocols while all the Tsangaya, Quaranic Islamiyat and faith based schools would open and operate in line with same protocols.”
The Commissioner who explained that the first term for 2020/2021 would commence from Sunday January 3, 2021, solicited the support of all stakeholders to be up and doing, reminding them that “the task ahead demanding.”
Reacting to the re-opening of schools in the state, the stateChairman, National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Mr Femi Isaac Alalade, commended the state government for its efforts at reopening of schools.
He, however, disclosed that most of the online programmes conducted during the lockdown was not effective because the “pupils were not used to them.”
The NAPPS state chairman said that there would be no waivers or reduction in school fees for since students were going to complete the 3rd term.
