From Aminu Dalhatu
Kaduna State Government says all schools should remain closed except Kaduna Polytechnic and the National Open University who requested to open for students to write exams only.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mrs Phoebe Sukai Yayi made this known at a news briefing in Kaduna.
Mrs Phoebe Sukai Yayi said the state Government was yet to announce the exact date schools would open.
She said it became necessary to clear the air on the date of resumption of schools.
“We know that, federal government stated that schools can resume on Monday the 18 of January 2021 following the closure of schools last year due to the second wave of Covid 19 increased cases”
“The situation is different in Kaduna State, as we have increase in number of COVID-19 cases that are coming up”
“In Kaduna State, we have our own peculiar situation, we heard through Social Media that, Kaduna State government had declared 18 January 2021 to be the resumption date which we disclaimed.
“We want to make it categorically clear that, Kaduna State government is yet to fix a date for resumption of schools.
The Permanent Secretary explained that, Government was till monitoring the situation and promised to make pronouncement regarding that in due course.
According to her, the only exception they have for now, is the National Open University of Nigeria and Kaduna Polytechnic which specifically requested to resume for students to write semester examination only.
Mrs Yayi further noted that, the Ministry inspected the school premises, confirmed their preparedness and satisfied with all the protocols put in place.
She also requested state or federal Institutions that are in Kaduna State to please hold on their activities untill Government comes up with clear date for resumption.
“For Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, we are yet to receive any communication from them, so as far as we knew, ABU Zaria is till closed until we receive directive from Kaduna State government”