Federal Government has said it is considering reopening schools after lifting interstate travel ban imposed to control the spread of COVID-19.
Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba stated this during the briefing by the COVID-19 Presidential Task Force in Abuja on Monday.
The Federal Government had in March shut all schools in the country as part of measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Minister of State for Education dismissed circulating claims on social media that a date has been set for reopening of schools by the FG.
According to Nwajiuba, the FG is being careful not to lead Nigerians into danger as coronavirus cases continue to increase.
The minister pointed out that some countries that opened schools hurriedly shut them when their cases spiked.
He stressed;
We want to open when it is safe to do so. We have heard about neighbouring countries that opened and shut. We have heard about cases spiking with children getting into school. Of all the things I will like to do, I will not like to experiment with your children. We want a situation where once we are sure it is safe, we can then take them into school.
The minister explained that;
I have just finished a meeting with the representatives of WAEC and NABTEB and I understand how that worries our parents at the moment and how anxious our children are to know what next.
As soon as those in charge of the blockade lift it because there is no way we can open our schools if teachers cannot come.
It would be recalled that the FG had announced that ban on interstate travel and domestic flight operations could be lifted on June 21.
Nwajiuba reiterated that the government is considering reopening of schools once the interstate lockdown is lifted, because transportation is important for proper reopening.
