ARMSTRONG ALLAHMAGANI, Bauchi
Following directives by the Federal Government that schools should re-open in preparation for the 2020 West African Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), Bauchi State Government has directed its schools to resume on Thursday, 6th August.
The directive which said that only schools with Senior Secondary 3 students writing the final examinations should re-open however, stated that all NECO, NABTECH and NBAIS candidates are to await further instructions before they can resume to write their respective exams.
These were parts of a communique issued at the end of a stakeholders meeting on the re-opening of schools across Bauchi State which held on Wednesday, July 29th 2020 and made available to journalists in Bauchi on Monday.
The communique stated that all students must come to school with at least one washable face mask, while schools were also mandated to make provision for at least one gate to be monitored, preferably by teachers who will be stationed permanently at the gate to monitor those coming into the school.
The communiqué further stated that all schools must make sure that all students must respect social distancing rules and regulations in the classrooms, hostels and dining halls.
The schools were directed to have a functional clinic in the school and “where there is none, a classroom should be converted to a clinic and there must be a holding area for isolating suspected cases.”
The government said that Private schools, were free to charge their students up to N500 to enable them meet the COVID-19 basic requirements.
“Schools should liaise with the nearest health centre to evaluate the activities of the school clinic, sign attendance and report on daily bases.
“The state government will provide infrared thermometers to public schools while private schools are expected to provide at least one for themselves. Each school is expected to provide enough covid-19 buckets, soap and water for regular washing of hands.
“Each school is advised to liaise with agricultural offices of their LGA for knapsacks while MOE (Ministry of Education) will provide four liters of Chlorine to each school in case of the need for fumigation arises.
“Any school that has a faulty water source should communicate to the Ministry of Education immediately.
“Private schools may charge up to N500.00 only for the provision basic COVID-19 requirements from each student. Any public school that cannot meet up with the above requirements should communicate to the Ministry of Education for assistance immediately,” the communique stated.
According to the communique, only students of public schools in the state that will write the WASSCE are expected to resume stressing that: “All public schools students must complete the payment of the approved annual school fees of N 700.00 before they are allowed to sit for the examinations.”
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