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By Our Correspondent in Ilorin
As Public and private schools in Kwara State resumed normal academic on Monday, parents have been urged to prepare their children well before attending school, to save them from contracting the virus while eating around.
This is one of the views of members of the public who spoke with The Reporters,an online publication in Ilorin on Tuesday.
The online publication recalls that the schools were shut on March 23, to check the spread of coronavirus dating back to Wuhan in China on December 31,2019.
Our correspondent who visited some schools in Ilorin, observed that students turned out in their large numbers for classes and they observed the COVID-19 safety protocols.
Many of them who spoke with the online publication expressed joy of returning to school after spending some months at home.
Speaking with our correspondent in Ilorin, the Principal in charge of Universal Basic Education at Government Secondary School in Ilorin,Alhaji Yusuf Abdullahi, advised that children should not be allowed to eat around from food vendors to avoid contracting diseases.
Abdullahi explained that the state government had fumigated the schools ahead of students’ resumption, noting that soap and water, as well as hand sanitizers had been provided for the students.
He added that all students were made to use face mask and sit in two to maintain the required NCDC social distancing rules.
Abdullahi, however ,said any student who violates COVID-19 safety protocol wou be sent back home.
The Reporters recalls that the state government recently directed public and private schools in the state to resume normal academic classes from Monday, October 5
Commenting on the issue in a statement, the Commissioner for Communications,Harriet Afolabi-Oshatimehin,said the state government adequately prepared for the resumption of academic activities by the pupils and students.
The Commissioner disclosed that various trainings were held for teachers, on how to protect themselves and students from the COVID-19 infection, coupled with the provision of improved manpower in monitoring and case tracing.
“With appreciable guarantee of some protection for the children, the government h
directs the reopening of elementary schools from October 5.
“Similarly, state-owned tertiary institutions are to reopen from October 12, or as may be determined by their respective governance structures,”she said.
The Commissioner,who reminded the people that “COVID-19 is still with us”, urged school authorities to ensure that all safety protocols were adhered to, including physical distance, use of face masks, and constant washing of hands with soap and water.
This she added was necessary in order to flatten the curve of transmission of the virus.
She expressed the state government’s continued commitment to keep the citizens safe at all times.
The Commissioner, however,warned that “schools with scanty regards for safety protocols risk being shut.”
