Share!
Federal Government has cautioned Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde against reopening of schools amid the rise in coronavirus cases in the country.
Governor Makinde had announced that primary six pupils and students in junior and senior secondary schools three can resume on June 29.
Speaking at the Presidential Task Force (PTF) briefing on COVID-19 in Abuja, Minister of Education, Emeka Nwajiuba described the decision as insensitive, adding that it contradicts the federal government’s position on the resumption of schools.
“The ministry of education did not give any guideline to Oyo state to reopen schools. We also think that that is a little bit contradictory,” said Nwajiuba.
“However, Oyo state, like all other sub-nationals, have governors and under our constitution, governors are responsible for their states.
“But you must appreciate that the primary purpose of government is the security of its citizens. Security is not only when people start shooting guns at you; public health is key and primary in that primary security delivery.
“And that’s why we are extremely cautious in making any pronouncement around this because the education sector owns the largest number of infrastructure in the country.
“For you to even begin to decide to unroll and unleash this in the public in the face of a pandemic, is, to be the very least, insensitive.”
The education minister stated that since the country has not reached the stage of optimal testing, as such the government “cannot even forecast where this epidemic or pandemic is most positioned at”.
“So the least we can do at the moment is to keep our children, our most prized assets, the future of Nigeria, under lock and key first. When we are sure that it’s safe to release them, gladly we will,” he said.
He further appealed to parents to remain patient on the reopening of schools so as not to experience a situation where children begin to occupy clinics.
