Private Schools’ Owners suggest staggered reopening of public schools

Private Schools’ Owners under the aegis of National Association Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) have differed from the proposed review of the January 18 resumption date for schools; suggesting staggered reopening, especially for public schools with a high population so that some students attend in the morning and others in the afternoon or alternative days of the week.

Reacting to Federal Government’s proposed review of resumption date for schools, the President of NAPPS, Chief Yomi Otubela reiterated that instead of postponing resumption date, a phased reopening of schools for different classes could be adopted while reduced hours of learning within the school environment could also be adopted to reduce the probability of exposure to the virus.

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Otubela stressed that there is no basis for the continued closure of schools in the country due to COVID-19 as this may lead to negative consequences especially for the nation’s fragile educational system. He mentioned that over 30percent of private schools have been totally locked down while some have lost their lives to poverty due to impact of the prolonged closure occasioned by COVID-19 pandemic.

Commenting on adopting remote learning as a complement to learning, he said, “We should take cognizance of the vulnerable children who may have difficulty engaging in remote learning due to lack of devices or quiet space to study. This makes physical schooling more desirable,” he said, noting that the challenges associated with remote learning are likely to bring negative consequences due to learners’ exposure to explicit contents, high cost of data and power supply among others.

According to him, private schools cannot afford another prolonged closure of schools to prevent the total collapse of private education sub-sector. He pointed out that majority of students leave in unorganized environments that are not helping to curb the spread of the virus, saying, putting them in organized environments like schools protect them better especially when their parents and guardians are at work.

As part of preparation for reopening of schools, Otubela made known that NAPPS has put in place its internal monitoring committee to ensure private schools in the country continue to adhere to the recommended COVID-19 safety protocols