By Lucky Isibor,
Few students in certificate classes turned up in school as schools resume in Edo on Monday after four months of forced closure due to the out break of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.
A visit to some of the public and private schools in the city centre revealed that the schools were keeping with the guidelines provided for reopening by the government.
As part of the guidelines, the schools are to ensure that the students as well as their teachers wear face mask, provide hand sanitiser and also make provision for regular washing of hands.
While the state government provided all the needed items, including face masks for students in public schools alone, private schools owners only made provision for hand sanitiser and hand washing points.
And with these in place, the turn up of students to resume classes after over four months of closure, was not satisfactory.
At Imaguero College, Benin, it was observed that as at 8am, only a handful of students were available to commence learning.
A Senior staff of the school who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said she had expected that the students would be so happy to resume school after a prolonged stay at home.
She however said that it is not unexpected as most parents will not be disposed to allowing their children back in school for fear of contracting the novel Coronavirus disease.
“As you can see for yourself, the teachers are more than the students; the students are scared to come back because of the disease,” she said.
Also speaking, Ogbuagu Flourish Emmanuel from Edokpolor Grammar School, said it has not been easy being at home all these while and that they are so happy to have been called back to school.
He said the Principal has already instructed them on what to do in keeping with the NCDC COVID-19 guidelines and that they are ready to abide by them.
For the Principal of Edokpolor Grammar School, Mr Austin Akenbor, though they are complying wih the COVID-19 guidelines on school resumption, they expect a fully school from Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Mr Jimoh Ijegbai, the State Commissioner for Education, expressed confident that the students turn up will increase appreciably.
“This is just the first day and am sure that the parents and the students are watching to see what happens today (Monday). Don’t also forget that the WAEC starts next Monday.
“As safety of the students, the state government has provided all that is required for their safety, including face masks.
“The fact that only terminal classes is resuming also makes things easier for us in terms of maintaining social distancing in classes”, the Commissioner said.
