Students in terminal classes in primary and secondary schools in Oyo State resumed at schools, on Monday, amid compliance with the COVID-19 protocols as directed by the state government.
The students, in primary 6, Junior Secondary School 3, and Senior Secondary Secondary School 3 were asked to return to schools in order to prepare them for the coming examinations.
The state government directed both private and public primary and secondary schools in the state to keep to the COVID-19 guidelines in view of resumption for the safety of both the learners and their teachers.
On Monday morning, around 8am, both the students and the teachers were already in school in preparation for lessons.
During Oyo Reporters’ visit to some of the schools, both the staff and the students were checked in at the entrance after their body temperature were measured.
Those who were without face masks were, however, turned back home.
Checks showed that the COVID-19 compliance rate was high both in public and private primary and secondary schools in the state.
Some of the schools’ administrators said about 50 per cent of students in the targeted classes resumed for classes on the first day.
The state President, National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, Pastor Kayode Adeyemi, said, “We are happy now that schools in the state are opening in phases. We are looking forward to the time when schools will open fully.
“Students who have resumed already are happy because they feel more secured in a regulated environment than when their parents just dumped them in unsafe environments.
“We have the resources to cater for them because we made provision during the outbreak of Ebola.”
The Treasurer of NAPPS in Ibadan, Pastor Olaoluwa Adewale, said, “Today, is the first day of resumption of schools after about three months of closure in Oyo State.
“We are happy and the students are excited. At Josabig, the team that is monitoring compliance in the state visited some branches of our schools. Today being the first day, about 50per cent of our students in the terminal classes resumed. We are hopeful that more students will resume as the days go by.
“Some of the parents called to assure us that their children would also join, so there is no cause for alarm. As you can see, we tried our best at ensuring that we keep to the directives by the state’s COVID-19 task force.”
Some students from private schools in the state, said, “We are very happy to be back to school. We pray that other classes should resume soon as well.”
The Executive Chairman, Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, Dr. Nureni Adeniran, said, “We would put the security of the schools on the front burner. This would forestall theft of furniture and other classroom items, which most teachers complained about.
“The essence of re-opening schools for those in Primary 6 is for teachers to prepare them adequately for their forthcoming exams. I appeal to you teachers to do this without prejudice.”
