Students return home as Enugu government shifts reopening of schools

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There was no resumption of schools in Enugu State yesterday, as some students who had gone to their schools in anticipation of the reopening, were sent back home on the orders of the state government.

It was learnt that they were told to go home and await further directives on the date of resumption. 

Commissioner for Education, Professor Uche Eze, who spoke on the development, insisted that no school in the state would reopen until Friday, adding however, that only SSS3 and JSS3 students would be allowed to resume.

He stated that those expected to be in school as from Tuesday, August 4, 2020 were teachers in exit classes, adding that government would use between Tuesday and Thursday to train them on how to handle the returning students amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

When The Guardian visited a school yesterday, some teachers were sighted holding a meeting at a section of the school compound.Eze, however, stressed that although the government had worked hard to reduce the spread of coronavirus and was ready to reopen schools, only schools that have met the stipulated guidelines on safety measures would be allowed to reopen.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Private Sector Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID) commended Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for his efforts at minimising the impact of coronavirus pandemic on the people of the state.

Speaking at the CACOVID palliatives distribution in Enugu, its representative, Mrs. Chiaka Mbagwu, disclosed that the group was proud of the steps Governor Ugwuanyi had so far taken to keep the people safe.

Mbagwu explained that CACOVID was an Organised Private Sector (OPS) initiative in partnership with the Federal Government, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other stakeholders with the aim of combating COVID-19 pandemic in the country.

She added that Ugwuanyi administration’s commitment to the fight against the pandemic, as well as its efforts to safeguard and cushion the impact of the disease on the state’s residents, informed their decision to support the state through donation of food items such as garri, rice, pasta, noodles, sugar and salt.

Mbagwu, who is Regional Head, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Enugu, said, “CACOVID has sought to provide continuing support to the government in the fight against COVID-19 through the provision of palliative items for Nigerians.”

Speaking, Ugwuanyi commended CACOVID for its support, saying his administration had constantly engaged in distribution of palliatives including food items to vulnerable persons, groups and communities to cushion the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.