By Onome Oghenetega
The Delta State Government has asked primary six pupils in the state to resume classes Wednesday September 16, 2020, as part of efforts by the state government to gradually reopen schools in the state.
Ahead of the pupils’ resumption, the government has ordered primary school teachers across the state to return to work on Monday September 16.
The schools in the state were shut to contain the spread of the coronavirus pandemic where Delta has recorded 1,790 confirmed cases with 1,616 recovery and 48 deaths while 126 patients are currently undergoing treatment.
The government in efforts to reopen schools, this week ordered junior secondary school three students to resume classes in the state.
A statement signed by the State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Patrick Ukah, said the resumption was to enable the pupils take cognitive placement examination scheduled to take place on Saturday, September 26, 2020.
Ukah said that the reopening is in line with the decision of the state government, in conjunction with the Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19 and the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), to implement phased resumption of schools beginning with exit classes.
He ordered teachers to immediately commence revision classes upon their resumption on Wednesday.
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The commissioner directed primary school heads to ensure that all COVID-19 protocols as enumerated by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) are strictly adhered to in order to avoid the spread of the disease among teachers and pupils.
Ukah warned head teachers not to accommodate more than 20 pupils in each class to ensure proper physical distancing, in addition to complying with other protocols put in place to control the spread of the disease.
According to him, no pupil should be allowed into the the school compound without wearing a facemask, adding the state government will provide facemasks for them.
He added that officials of the ministry in conjunction with the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and members of the committee set up by the state government would monitor compliance with the established protocols.
