The Lagos State government has revealed plans for resumption for both public and private schools five months after the closure of schools occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo, who disclosed the plans in a statement issued on Sunday explained that the ministry is adopting a phased approach to enable public schools to meet the COVID-19 social distance rules and safety protocol so as to watch the behaviour of the pandemic as the schools gradually open up.
According to her, the present JSS 3 and SS 2 students in public schools across the state are to resume classes from September 21, 2020, to enable the JSS 3 students who are already in an exit class to revise and get adequately prepared for the forthcoming Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) scheduled to be held from October 6 – 12, 2020.
The resumption, she also said, will afford the present SS 2 students an opportunity to prepare effectively for their transition to SS 3, assuring that other classes would be opened as soon as the ministry ascertains their safety.
Meanwhile, the closed classes in public schools have been directed to continue their lessons on the various distance learning platforms including online platform, radio, television and WhatsApp, while the next phase for physical resumption will be announced in due course.
Also, the commissioner noted that privately-owned primary and secondary schools in the state are permitted to resume from September 21, 2020, while school owners were encouraged to put safety first and open in phases similar to the plans for public schools.
She further directed that pre-primary classes and schools in both public and private sectors should remain closed until further announcements are made.