Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has kicked against the reopening of schools by the Federal Government amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
It would be recalled that schools across the country have been shut since March to curb the spread of the pandemic.
However, the FG on Monday approved ‘safe reopening’ of schools nationwide as part of the next phase of the gradual easing of lockdown ordered to curtail further spread of COVID-19.
The union argued that the government must make resources available in order for schools to meet proposed conditions by the Federal Ministry of Education.
ASUU National President, Professor Biodun Ogunyemi, made this position known on Monday while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria in Ota, Ogun State.
He urged the government to provide the ideal environment and meet the conditions spelt out by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) before reopening schools across the country.
Ogunyemi;
The Federal Government must lead and show the ways by meeting the conditions for reopening of schools before any school can be allowed to open because COVID-19 pandemic is a health challenge.
When it comes to public health, it is something that should not be left in the hands of individuals but the Federal Government must take the lead.
The ASUU president listed the conditions spelt out by NCDC to include the provision of materials for regular handwashing, provision of face masks, isolations spaces, hands sanitisers, amongst others.
He said many government-owned schools do not have financial capacities to meet the outlined conditions.
Ogunyemi stressed that;
It is suicidal to reopen schools now if the Federal Government itself could not meet the conditions spelt out by the NCDC and the World Health Organisation. The nation will expose innocent children to avoidable risks.
The approved reopening of schools is meant to allow students in Primary 6, Junior Secondary School 3 (JSS 3) and Senior Secondary school 3 (SSS 3) resume preparation for examinations.
