Rep members oppose school resumption, propose three-month postponement

The House of Representatives has decried the Federal Government directive for schools to go-ahead with resumption on Monday despite the increasing cases of COVID-19.

The House said government officials did not consult the relevant committees of the National Assembly, contrary to their claim that all relevant stakeholders were consulted before arriving at January 18, 2021, resumption date.

It, therefore, demanded postponement of resumption for three months, where necessary safety measures weren’t put in place and compliance with protocols low.

Read Also:COVID-19: NANS begs FG not to postpone school resumption

This was contained in a statement issued by Chairman of the House Committee on Basic Education and Services, Prof Julius Ihonvbere, on Saturday.

The House committee, in the statement, opposed the Monday resumption date.

The statement was titled “School resumption: Are we truly prepared?”

The statement said, “The Committee on Basic Education and Services, House of Representatives, has received with concern the decision of the Federal Government to reopen schools on January 18, 2021.

“We are particularly concerned that when the infection rates hovered around 500 and under, schools were closed; but now that it hovers well above 1,000 infections daily, schools are being reopened. Why are we rushing to reopen schools without adequate verifiable and sustainable arrangements to protect and secure our children?”