Kaduna tertiary institutions to resume Monday amidst strict COVID-19 protocols

Kaduna State Government has approved Monday, 25th of January 2021 as resumption date for tertiary institutions across the state but warned that the schools management must ensure strict adherence to all the guidelines and protocols put in place by the State.

A statement issued by the State’s Ministry of Education and signed by the Permanent Secretary, Phoebi Sukai Yayi stated that the approval came after an assessment team had gone round all tertiary institutions in the state to ensure their level of preparedness and plans for reopening are in full compliance with the state COVID-19 preventive protocols.

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Daily Trust reports that the state government’s directive came a few hours after the Management of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) hinted that it could not go on with its scheduled reopening date of Monday, 25th January 2021 as it was still awaiting the state government’s directive.

The Director, Public Affairs Directorate of ABU, Auwalu Umar had earlier stated that the state government had sent a verification team to the institution on January 20th, 2021 to assess the school’s compliance with COVID-19 preventive protocol.

However, the latest statement by the Ministry of Education on Sunday evening stated that: “All the measures which have been assessed and confirmed to be in place must be sustained as any lapse or bridge will lead to the closure of the erring Institution without notice.”

“Resumption by all Tertiary Institutions will be in phases as provided by the Institutions and according to their academic levels and subject to school’s compliance with guidelines in place,” it stated.

According to the ministry, unscheduled monitoring visits to schools across the state will be conducted by a Task Force team to ensure continuous compliance with the COVID-19 guidelines.

It stated that assessment based on COVID-19 guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health in the state for all other levels of Public and Private Schools is ongoing.