The Lagos State Government has disclosed that it would adopt staggered method for resumption of schools in the state in view of the reality of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The government has, however, kept mute on the date it intends to reopen the schools, but urged school authorities to make necessary arrangements towards resumption in line with all the Covid-19 protocols.
Commissioner for education, Folashade Adefisayo who stated this in a statement made available to the media, said the modalities to be adopted would ensure that schools do not aid the spread of the dangerous disease.
Adefisayo stated that each school must have running water with soaps and sanitisers at its entrance and at other strategic locations within the premises to encourage students and teachers to wash their hands regularly in addition to the compulsory use of face masks.
Also, the sitting arrangement of students in a standard classroom would not exceed 20. This, she said, would allow for physical distancing and enable teachers to have unhindered movement around the classrooms.
It stated that the method would allow teachers to have a grip on coordinating and monitoring students’ activities towards strict adherence to coronavirus guidelines within the school premises.
Adefisayo said that efforts were ongoing by the state government to ensure schools remain a safe place for students to learn without contracting coronavirus.
While underscoring the need to educate school authorities on how to safeguard students and teachers, she emphasised that necessary safety measures would be available before resumption, amid the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic.
To ensure its availability, the commissioner stated that this was reason for the ongoing school inspection to find out the infrastructural needs and the intervention required by the schools from the government ahead of resumption.
The commissioner stated that the visit also became necessary in view of the ongoing deliberations on modalities for school resumption, especially in respect of the forthcoming West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examinations (WASSCE) and how to ensure the safety of the participating.
She urged the principals and school authorities in the state o ensure that the school environment was conducive for learning, assuring that proper safety measures would be put in place before the start of WASSCE.
