Jennifer Ugwukwe
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Monday 29th Strongly opposed the idea of reopening of schools by the Federal Government amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
ASUU argued that the government must make provisions for resources in order for schools to meet proposed conditions by the Federal Ministry of Education.
Prof Biodun Ogunyemi, ASUU National president made this concerns known on Monday while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria in Ota, Ogun State.
Ogunyemi implored the government to provide the adequate and ideal environment and to meet the conditions spelt out by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC)before reopening schools
Nationwide.
Ogunyemi said, “The Federal Government must lead and show the ways by meeting the conditions for reopening of schools before any school can be allowed to open because COVID-19 pandemic is a health challenge.
“When it comes to public health, it is something that should not be left in the hands of individuals but the Federal Government must take the lead.”
The conditions spelt out by the NCDC as listed by the ASUU president includes the provision of materials for regular handwashing, provision of face masks, isolations spaces, hands sanitisers, amongst others.
He further stated that many government-owned schools don’t have financial capacities to meet the outlined conditions
.
He said, “It is suicidal to reopen schools now if the Federal Government itself could not meet the conditions spelt out by the NCDC and the World Health Organisation. The nation will expose innocent children to avoidable risks.”
Schools across the country were shut in March to curb the spread of the pandemic.