A Member of the House Committee On Basic Education, Hon Awaji-Inombek Abiante has said that public schools don’t have the capacity to observe the COVID-19 protocols laid down by the Presidential Task Force to avoid the spread of the disease.

The lawmaker made his views known on Monday during Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily Programme.

“Our concerns have been that nobody sustainably has done anything relative to providing the very basic means of adhering to the protocols as laid down by the government, especially with the public schools,” he said.

His statement comes following the reopening of schools across the federation for the 2020/2021 academic session.

The Federal Government had on January 14, insisted that the January 18 resumption date for schools in the country remains intact despite fears over the surge in COVID-19 cases in Nigeria.

Although the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Education directed that all schools and parents must ensure strict compliance with COVID-19 protocols such as wearing of face masks, social distancing among others.

The ministry said that these measures which are to ensure the safe reopening of schools for academic activities will be subject to constant review, thereby urging teachers, school administrators, and other stakeholders to ensure strict compliance.

The lawmaker, however, expressed concerns over the adherence level in public schools.

“There are schools in this country where the pupils sleep under trees, the challenge of accommodation is very huge in these schools.

“What has the government done between the first wave of the COVID-19 and the second wave?” He asked.

“We have no data suggesting and submitting that majority of the schools have the capacity and the willingness to ensure that the COVID-19 protocols are kept”.

Hon. Abiante called on the Federal Government to provide information that shows its readiness for schools to reopen.

Channels