FG Insists on January 18 School Resumption Date

The Nigerian government has said the January 18, 2021 resumption date for schools remain unchanged.

The country’s ministry of education on Thursday in a statement signed by Ben Goong, director, press and public relations said the decision not to alter the date was taken after wide consultation.

“After extensive consultations with relevant stakeholders, including State Governors, Commissioners of Education, Proprietors and heads of institutions, staff unions and students, the consensus of opinion is that the resumption date of 18th January should remain,” the Federal Ministry of Education said in a statement issued on Thursday by its Director, Press and Public Relations, Ben Goong.

The Ministry, however, explained that all schools and parents must ensure strict compliance with COVID-19 protocols such as wearing of face masks, social distancing among others.

“These measures which are to ensure safe reopening of schools for academic activities will be subject to constant review as we urge teachers, school administrators and other stakeholders to ensure strict compliance,” the ministry added.

Earlier in the week, the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 had hinted that it would review the resumption date (January 18, 2020) for learning institutions in the country, citing the rising COVID-19 infections in the country.

This had sparked fears among many Nigerians that school resumption might be put on hold indefinitely even though many states in the country had set dates for the reopening of the learning centres.

The Federal Government had on December 21st ordered the closure of schools across the country until January 18, 2021, even though many learning institutions had ended classes for the year and set resumption dates for the first and second weeks of January 2021.

According to the Chairman of the PTF, Boss Mustapha, the closure of the schools was to allow the COVID-19 prevention measures introduced to take effect in the learning centres.