Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto has approved the reopening of schools in batches from October 11.
The development followed a meeting with relevant stakeholders after which the governor directed that the 2020/2021 academic session for basic and secondary schools should begin on Monday, October 11th.
A statement by the spokesperson of the governor, Muhammad Bello made available to ASHENEWSONLINE on Monday, said primary six pupils and students on the last lap of Junior Secondary School (JSS III) would resume two weeks later.
According to the proposal by the Commissioner for Higher Education and approved by Tambuwal, higher education students in final year, those returning and new students, will resume October 12th, 19th and 26th, respectively.
The state government said it took cognizance of the COVID-19 ‘protocols and guidelines’ as well as ‘the best option to be adopted by the state regarding schools reopening.’
“First and second term continuous assessment are to be used in promoting students to the next class for this session (2019/2020). The BECE should be conducted for the returning JSS III students as a “precondition for their transition to Senior Secondary (SS I). Equally, the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) will “conduct placement exercise into Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) I and Primary One,” according to the document.
The state government cautioned all schools in the state to compulsorily “adhere strictly to COVID-19 guidelines and protocols which include provision of sanitizers, hand washing machines, thermometers and isolation rooms among others.”
It also directed that “schools with overcrowded students” are “to adopt shift system with a view to minimizing physical contact.”
Meanwhile, the state government has directed “that all private institutions operating in the state must adhere strictly to the state academic calendar issued by the ministry of Basic and Secondary Education.”
