The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has approved the reopening of public and private schools in the state on January 4, 2021, warning that there must be strict adherence to COVID-19 protocols.
A statement by the Permanent Secretary of the state Ministry of Education, Chidi Aniele, on Saturday read, “The Ministry of Education wishes to announce that, with the approval of His Excellency Governor Nyesom Wike, the school calendar published in August 2020 stands. Accordingly, both public and private schools in the State are hereby reminded that schools will resume on January 4, 2021, for normal academic activities.
“Schools are to maintain all COVID-19 protocols, including the wearing of face masks, use of hand sanitisers and staggered classes/morning and afternoon sessions in order to avoid overcrowding.”
Meanwhile, Bayelsa and Ebonyi states have said schools will reopen on January 11 and 18 respectively.
Bayelsa State Commissioner for Education, Mr Gentle Emelah, said in a statement that all primary and secondary schools in the state should resume for the 2020/2021 academic session on Monday, January 11.
He said all boarding students were expected to arrive at their schools on January 10, as he directed the management of each school should ensure total compliance with the COVID-19 safety guidelines.
In Ebonyi State, the Commissioner for Education, Mr Onyebuchi Chima, in a statement on Saturday said all public, private and mission nursery, primary and secondary schools in the state should resume on January 18 instead of January 4 as earlier scheduled.
He said the directive was from the Governor, Mr David Umahi, and that people should take precaution against the impending second wave of the virus while urging the public to comply with the directives of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19.