Lagos Approves Re-opening of Schools from Monday

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Lagos State Government has approved the re-opening of schools for all classes in public and private schools across the state with effect from Monday, November 2, 2020.

This was made known by the Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Mrs Folasade Adefisayo, on Thursday, October 29, 2020, and confirmed by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on New Media, Mr Gawat Jubril.

Recall that Business Post had reported that schools were shutdown following the violence that rocked the #EndSARS protests in the state that led to the destruction of properties, including those belonging to the government and private individuals by some hoodlums. The vandalisation was triggered by the shooting of peaceful protesters at the Lekki Toll Plaza by soldiers from the Nigerian Army.

With the approval, it means normal physical school activities will resume from Monday while boarders in public schools are to resume on Sunday, November 1.

“This has been an unprecedented year with the recent happenings that have regrettably led to frequent closure of schools with attendant learning disruptions faced by all children.”

“We pray and hope that there will be no more disruptions in the academic calendar. However, the State Government will always regard the safety of pupils/students, parents, and all staff as a matter of priority,” She said.

“We recommend that when schools resume on Monday, teaching and learning should continue unhindered till the end of the term,” Mrs Adefisayo said in a statement on Thursday,

The Commissioner used the opportunity to advise pupils and students to take their studies more seriously in a bid to recover the lost academic schedule that was also affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

The Lagos State government had in March 2020 shut down schools in the metropolis as a result of the global health pandemic caused by COVID-19. The schools were only allowed to reopen last month for those in primary one upwards, while the pre-school and nursery classes were allowed to join this month.