Weak compliance to COVID-19 protocols has characterised the resumption of schools in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. especially government-owned schools, while compliance was fairly strict in private schools.
Though there was considerable availability of hand hygiene facilities, temperature checks, use of face masks, compliance to its use was weak in most schools visited. In addition, there was no provision for physical distancing measures.
The minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, while directing schools to reopen early this month, instructed school owners to be strict and rigid in the implementation of COVID-19 protocols.
Some of these guidelines reeled by the federal government for safe reopening include decongesting of classrooms, hostels to ensure safe distancing, adequate Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) facilities across the school premises, and referral system to mange possible COVID-19 cases among others.
Adamu had warned that any school owner that does not comply with COVID-19 guidelines and an outbreak occurs in the school due to negligence, risk closure.
At the Federal Government Girls’ College, Bwari, the hand hygiene facilities installed at the gates were mostly ignored as several visitors, students who walked in including this reporter did not have their temperatures checked or directed to wash their hands.
A student told BusinessDay that the sitting arrangement and hostel is still the same as it was before the pandemic.
At the government secondary school, all students who resumed without face masks were not allowed into the school premises and consequently sent back home. But, enforcement of other protocols was weak. At the secondary school in Bwari, only one Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) facility was installed at the schools’ administrative block and poor compliance on the use of face masks among students and staff.
Abdulkarim Abdulrahman, president of all confederation of Principal Abuja, lamented the negligence of parents who allowed their children to resume school without a face mask.
On social distancing measures, the principal of Senior Secondary School Zuba, Abdulwahab Ibrahim informed the school has decided to run shifts to ensure physical distancing.
“Because of the population of students and the need for social distancing, we have decided to run classes on Shift, morning 8 AM to 12:30PM, afternoon 12:30PM to 4:30PM. We would hold a PTA meeting today to inform the parents on our own guidelines and modalities, he said.
However, a staff at the Government Day Secondary School Bwari, who pleaded anonymity reiterated that the school cannot comply fully with the social distancing measures maximally because there aren’t enough teachers.
In the same vein, a staff of a private school in Bwari, Iruke Nneoma said all students and pupils of the school will observe their break time in their various classes and outdoor activities will be limited to ensure strict physical distancing.
Meanwhile, government-owned primary schools in the nation’s capital could not resume due to the ongoing strike action by teachers over non-implementation of minimum wage and non-payment of arrears.
Students and a few staff who resumed today went back homes as classrooms were under lock and key.
A staff who spoke on the condition of anonymity said staff said teachers in senior secondary schools have been paid their arrears and minimum wage, but they are yet to receive theirs and schools will remain under lock until they are paid.
But some of the schools visited in Kubwa, Wuse, and Garki complied with the safety measures.
At the JSS Kubwa Il, there was a bucket of running water, hand sanitizer, and thermometer used to check the temperature of the students.
The Principal of the School, Chinyelu Okafor, told BusinessDay that they would adhere to the safety guidelines so as not to compromise the health of the students
Okafor said as part of the safety measures, the JSS I students would be allowed to attend classes in the morning, while JSS 2 students would attend classes in the afternoon to maintain social distance.
She hinted that the population of the students was over 1500, adding that there was no way they could maintain social distance without dividing them into morning and afternoon sessions.
On other measures put in place ahead of Monday’s resumption, the principal revealed that she spent N35,000 to fumigate the school premises before government officials came to fumigate the school again.
When BusinessDay visited Clemart Nursery and Primary School, Kubwa, there was the provision of running water, hand sanitizer, and thermometer right at the school gate for parents, pupils, and visitors.
Parents and wards were not allowed to go beyond the school gate without a face mask.
There were provisions of running water, hand sanitizer, and the thermometer at the JSS Tudunwa Government Secondary School, Wuse, Zone 4.
The security guard, Mohammed Abbas, said students, parents, and visitors cannot come into the school premises without a face mask.
He noted that “even with your face mask, you are expected to either wash your hands or use hand sanitizers before you could be allowed to go in.”
Abbas pointed out that part of the security measures put in place was the fumigation of the school four times, cutting of grasses, and trimming of the trees.
He said students sit five metres away from each other just to maintain social distance.
Mohammed Yahaya, a teacher at the Government Secondary School, Garki, Area 10, said they were fully complying with the resumption guidelines.
He disclosed that the school premises were twice fumigated before resumption and that face masks were provided for all the students and teachers.
Some school principals refused to talk to BusinessDay, instead insisting on written permission from the FCT Education Board.
