Lagos Public, private schools to reopen January 18- LASG

The anxious moment for parents over the date for school resumption is over as the Lagos State Government has ordered all public and private schools in the state to reopen for the second term of the 2020/21 academic session from Monday, January 18, 2021.

Folasade Adefisayo, commissioner for education Lagos State announced this on Monday in a statement by the Head, Public Affairs, Ministry of Education, Kayode Abayomi.

In the statement titled, ‘All public and private schools in Lagos State to resume 18th January 2021’, schools were also asked to make virtual learning available.

She said this was in line with the Federal Government’s directive coupled with the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“All public and private schools below the tertiary level in Lagos State should be reopened for the second term 2020/21 academic session from Monday, 18th of January, 2021.

Read also: UNIBEN fixes February for resumption of academic activities

“Schools should have flexible plans where students and teachers who feel sick can teach or learn from home via available online platforms. Schools should also strive to avoid any COVID-19 infection among all students and staff,” the statement read in part.

She also asked “all schools to make efforts to comply with all the outlined COVID-19 requirements for resumption of schools.

“Not just for the improvement of overall school operations but for the safe reopening of academic activities to support the Lagos State Government’s quest for a full return.”

The commissioner enjoined teachers, students, and visitors to wear facemasks at all times, observe physical distancing, embrace regular handwashing with soap under running water and maintain a high standard of personal hygiene within the school premises.

It will following the outbreak of COVID-19 second wave, the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, at its press conference on December 21, said all schools in the country would remain shut till January 18.

The PTF Chairman and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, who addressed the press conference, said, “The PTF on the advice of the Federal Ministry of Education, expects that schools would have vacated from the 18th December, 2020 and remain closed till at least the 18th of January, 2021 to enable the measures introduced to take effect.”

The measures, according to the PTF, include social distancing and installation of hand-washing materials.