OSONDU OGBONNA
All schools in Abia State shall re-open for the continuation of the first term of 2020/2021 academic session on Monday, January 11, 2021.
That is against calls for delay in nationwide resumption of schools.
The approval was given by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, a statement by the state’s Commissioner for Education, Dr. Kanaelechi Nwangwa, in Abia on Friday, stated.
Nwangwa directed all school heads and proprietors to ensure the observance of COVID-19 protocols for the safety of teachers and students.
He said that this was imperative following the the second wave of the COVID-19 in Nigeria.
“They should also note that by this directive, the first term of 2020/2021 will now officially end on Wednesday February 10, 2021.
“This is to ensure that the first term runs a full course as expected.
“Any school proprietor that shortchanges this schedule and decides to cut corners by running an abridged term will be appropriately sanctioned.
“The duration of the first term for the 2020/2021 academic session is from November. 2, 2020 to February 10, 2021 with the Christmas break in-between,” he said.
Nwangwa urged school heads and proprietors to be properly guided by the directive to avoid unwanted consequences.
Abia’s decision to re-open schools on the date is coming on the heels of calls by the Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, asking that schools in Nigeria should not resume on January 18, a date suggested by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19.
Also, the Nigeria Union of Teachers on Thursday cautioned the Federal Government against the January 18 resumption date for schools across the country.
The NUT Secretary-General, Dr. Mike Ike-Ene, who stated this in an interview with a Nigerian daily, said there was no need to hurriedly resume, if the rate of COVID-19 infection kept increasing.
Ike-Ene stated that if coronavirus infection was increasing, teachers would stay at home.
Recall that the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 had on December 17 said the country had entered COVID-19 second wave.
