COVID-19: Public, private schools in Lagos reopen today

As the COVID-19 positivity rate continues to remain on the downward trend in Lagos State, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has granted permission for the reopening of primary and secondary schools across the state from today, September 21, 2020.

The Incident Commander and Governor of Lagos State, who gave the directive during his 18th update on the coronavirus pandemic on Saturday, explained that public schools will adopt a phased protocol for the resumption of physical classes as students in JS3 and SS2 in public schools are to resume physical classes.

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The resumption, according to the governor, will allow the JS3 students adequately revise and prepare for their forthcoming Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) scheduled for October 6-12, 2020, while it will afford the SS2 students an opportunity to prepare effectively for their transition to SS3.

He noted that announcements for the resumption of all primary school classes and other secondary school classes including JS1, JS2, and SS1 in public schools will be made as soon as the state government is satisfied that all necessary resumption protocols have been put in place.

“The yet-to-resume classes in public schools are expected to continue their lessons on our various distance learning platforms such as online, radio, television, and WhatsApp pending the announcement of dates for physical resumption,” he said.

Unlike the resumption schedule for public schools, Governor Sanwo-Olu permitted all levels of classes in private schools to resume from September 21, and advised private primary and secondary school owners and managers to seriously consider implementing a staggered daily resumption schedule.

The governor, however, directed all pre-primary including nursery, daycare centers and kindergarten classes and schools in both public and private schools to remain closed until further announcements are made by the government.

Governor Sanwo-Olu also directed mosques in the state to resume their five daily prayer times while churches have also been permitted to resume their mid-week services.