Bayelsa State Government Guarantees Safety In Schools

The Permanent Secretaries of Ministries of Information and Education in Bayelsa says it has put in place safety measures in schools as final year students participate in external examinations as directed by the Federal Government.

They said that government was already fumigating schools across the state as well as providing hand washing facilities and urged parents and communities to complement the efforts of the government assuring that the government is doing its best to protect students and teachers.

A member of the Bayelsa COVID-19 Task Force, Akpor said that Gov. Douye Diri of the state who chairs the Task Force had approved the deployment of health professionals to schools while temporary isolation facilities would be put in place in schools. “The government of Bayelsa has been working to get our schools ready and safe for our children and that is why we have scheduled a train the trainers programme to acquaint schools with COVID-19 safety protocols. The essence is to build capacity of our people and update them with the guidelines from the Federal Government on the reopening of schools that is why we are taking our time and shifted the resumption for final year students to Aug. 5.”

Speaking further, he said that “Government is providing face masks, infrared thermometers and access to water for schools without water supply, alternative arrangements are in place and we are poised to check the spread of the coronavirus. In view of the questionable and low quality of hand sanitisers, we are emphasising frequent hand washing with soap and water and we appeal to members of the public as well as parents and guardians to complement the efforts government is making.”

He then urged parents to provide additional face masks for their wards so that when one is washed the other would suffice.