After Four Months, Oyo Schools Reopen Monday

As a way to curtail the spread of COVID-19 Governor Seyi Makinde had on March 21, ordered the closure of all schools in the state.

Assemblies are expected to be limited in schools such that there are two meters of physical distancing whenever the congregation of students and staff becomes necessary.

He, however, sought the cooperation of parents by providing facemask for their children/wards on a daily basis.

Despite assurances of the state government, schools are being reopened amid fears of some parents and other stakeholders about the difficulty in students avoiding physical contact, the sustainability of asking students to wear a facemask for hours and days and maintaining social distancing.

Among others, schools are expected to have warders whose duty is to monitor students and staff and put a call through to the state Emergency Operating Centre if anyone is showing symptoms of COVID-19.

Other measures include that schools compulsorily have handwashing points at the school entrances and at the entrance of each classroom as well as an alcohol-based sanitiser for the use of students and teachers.

Furthermore, schools are to enforce social distancing among students and teachers. The students themselves have their role to play by ensuring they come to school with their facemasks.

In preparing for today’s resumption, management of some schools had sent messages to parents, detailing their preparation of the school environment for the resumption and their expectation of both parents and their children/wards.

Management of schools pointed to efforts on their part to include fumigation of entire premises, including the classrooms and hostels, rearrangement of classrooms in compliance with the protocols of physical distancing.

While stressing that no one will be allowed into the school premises without a facemask, some schools also asked parents to give amounts ranging from N250 to N1,500 to their wards to get school customized facemasks/shields.

In addition, schools assured of body temperature checks, daily, at school entrances to detect persons with high temperature, while students were encouraged to have pocket-size hand sanitizers.

While break time is expected to be staggered, students were encouraged to use only their stationery and cutlery and take their midday meals in classrooms to avoid congregating.

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