House of Reps against school resumption date slated on Monday

The House of Representatives has attacked the Minister of Education, Adamu Adama and the State commissioners of Education for giving schools the go-ahead to resume on Monday despite the increasing cases of COVID-19.

The lawmakers, who against decision and demanded postponement of resumption for three months, where necessary safety measures weren’t put in place and compliance with protocols low.

Newsflash247 had earlier reported that the Federal Government had declared that all public and private schools across the country should resume on Monday, January 18.

The decision was taken by the Federal Government after reaching a consensus with governors, commissioners and other stakeholders.

Newsflash247 gathered that the consensus was reached at a meeting between the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu and Commissioners of Education in Abuja.

The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, Sonny Echono, who confirmed the new development, said the minister had extensive discussions with state governors and proprietors of schools.

He said: “We have had extensive discussions with state governors, proprietors of schools, labour /staff unions and students’ representatives. And the consensus is that we should reopen all schools.

“But the reopening of schools will be in compliance with COVID-19 protocols, especially strict adherence to non-pharmaceutical procedures.”

But House of Representatives  has faulted the Federal Government for giving schools the go-ahead to resume on Monday despite the increasing cases of COVID-19.

The House said government officials did not consult the relevant committees of the National Assembly, contrary to their claim that all relevant stakeholders were consulted before arriving at the January 18, 2021, resumption date.

It, therefore, demanded postponement of resumption for three months, where necessary safety measures weren’t put in place and compliance with protocols low.

Chairman of the House Committee on Basic Education and Services, Prof Julius Ihonvbere, disclosed these in a telephone interview with our correspondent on Saturday.

“They did not consult us; at least in my committee, nobody from the ministry spoke to me. I have been in Abuja. And I am not sure that they spoke to any of my members. They just don’t see us as part of the critical stakeholders,” he said.

Ihonvbere, in a statement he issued in Abuja on Saturday, on behalf of his committee, opposed the Monday resumption date.

The statement was titled “School resumption: Are we truly prepared?”

It read, “The Committee on Basic Education and Services, House of Representatives, has received with concern the decision of the Federal Government to reopen schools on January 18, 2021.

“We are particularly concerned that when the infection rates hovered around 500 and under, schools were closed; but now that it hovers well above 1,000 infections daily, schools are being reopened. Why are we rushing to reopen schools without adequate verifiable and sustainable arrangements to protect and secure our children?”

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