Commissioners of Education in 19 Northern States have backed the cancellation of the participation of Nigerian students in the 2020 West African Senior Certificate in Education organised by the West African Examinations Council and the suspension of school reopening amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Northern states commissioners of education also commended the decisive stand of the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, against the reopening of schools in the country, pledging their full support for him.
They made their position known in a communique issued in Kaduna State on Saturday, after a virtual meeting to consider school reopening and other issues aimed at strengthening the education sector.
Kaduna State Commissioner for Education, Dr Shehu Makarfi, who is also the Chairman of the Northern States School Exchange Programme, signed the communique.
Education commissioners of 13 of the 19 northern states namely, Kaduna, Bauchi, Gombe, Niger, Nasarawa, Adamawa, Taraba, Kogi, Kwara, Katsina, Kano, Borno and Jigawa attended the meeting.
They stated that keeping schools closed, considering the continued rise in COVID-19 cases across the country, would ensure the safety of children.
According to them, “We have, therefore, resolved that schools should be reopened only when it is safe to do so and when states have complied with the minimum COVID-19 safety protocols as outlined by the NCDC.
“We will also participate in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination and other examinations only when it is safe to reopen schools and when coordinated by the Federal Ministry of Education.
The Northern states education commissioners further resolved to carry out a holistic assessment of schools to determine safety status for reopening and submit their reports to their respective state governors for consideration.
They added, “Schools’ infrastructure, such as dilapidated classrooms, students’ hostels, source of safe water, sanitary facilities, including hand washing equipment and security are critical and should be improved.
“We will equally clear schools of bushes and grasses, as well as fumigate school’s surroundings to support learning and ensure safety when schools resume.”
The education commissioners, therefore, appealed to the Federal Government to support states in putting in place safety measures for school reopening.