By EMMA OBI, Calabar –
There are mixed reactions as some schools in Cross River State reopened on Tuesday following Federal Government’s directives to this effect.
While some people are impressed with Governor Ben Ayade’s administration’s efforts in meeting the Covid- 9 protocols in the provision of necessary facilities for state schools, some feel he needs to do more.
When this reporter visited Government Secondary School Akim, Barracks Road in the Calabar Metropolis, the head teacher was said to have gone to see the Commissioner for Education.
A teacher who pleaded anonymity told this reporter that “although the school has good water supply, they were yet to receive soap and hand sanitizers to enable them observe properly, the COVID-19 protocols”.
However, students in Senior School Certificate Examination SSCE were seen in a class receiving lectures while many other students not in uniform came just to confirm whether schools will actually resume.
A few other schools also visited in the state capital said they are still waiting for further directives from the state government before they officially commence academic activities.
Some other schools also visited in Calabar allege that academic activities were yet to commence because they are still expecting facilities from the state government for proper observance of the COVID-19 protocols.
In Margaret Ekpo Secondary School Calabar, opposite the Calabar International Air Port, some students were seen cutting grasses in the premises.
The Vice Principal Administration, Mrs. Magdalene Assam told this reporter that they were still waiting for directives from the state government on what to do.
“The principal went to the State Ministry of Education to see if there would be further directives and if some materials would be given to the school to enable us observe the COVID-19 protocols.
“The students are here, you can see them working in the compound, we told them to come with their facemasks but we have given some of the students our personal hand sanitiser as we are expecting some from the state government. Assam said.
However, she expressed optimism that lectures will commence within the shortest possible time.
In Government Secondary School Atekon, also in Calabar, the Principal, Mrs Patience Anani, said they took it upon themselves as a school to put things in place in observance of the COVID-19 protocol.
“We thank God we had the Ebola scare in 2014, a lot of schools bought thing’s like Wash hand basin and others, we just went back to the facilities we bought during that era.
Mrs. Anani appealed to state government to provide face shields for the teachers adding that for “other things, the teachers can provide for themselves like facemask and hand sanitiser”.
“You saw how the temperature of the students are checked at the gate before they are admitted into the school compound, they are also asked to wash their hands
“Those without facemasks are turned back”.
At the NYSC Secondary School along the Murutala Muhammed High Way, students were also seen around the school premises ready for lectures.
Amongst the private schools visited, non was seen open.
Efforts to reach the state commissioner for Education Dr. Godwin Amanke proved abortive as he told this reporter on phone that he was in a in a meeting.
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