School Resumption: KWSG didn’t provide COVID-19 protective kits- Private schools

By Mike Adeyemi
Proprietors of private schools in Kwara State have lamented the non- provision of protective materials to students and staff upon the re-opening of schools.
It would be recalled that the Federal Government had directed that secondary schools should re-open for exit classes in preparation for their external examinations.
Schools across the country had been closed for about four months to contain the spread of COVID-19.
A cross section of school heads in private schools in Ilorin, the state capital who spoke to our Reporter noted that only public schools were captured in the distribution of face masks and hand sanitizers by the state government.
The Vice Principal of St. Charles College, Offa Garage, Mr. Yusuf Abdulazeez, said the school was yet to receive protective kits from the state government.
According to him, ‘the state government has not given us any protective material. However, the PTA of the college actually did well by providing the students with all required protective materials. We heard that the government made available some face masks, but we haven’t gotten any.”
He, however, expressed satisfaction with the school resumption directive, adding that the College has prepared adequately for re-opening.
“We are so happy with the resumption directive by the government after students have lost much academics. At this college, we adhered strictly to the instructions by the NCDC.
“We have made available infer red thermometer, and we compelled all our students to put on their nose marks. We have maximum of 10 students in a class, “he explained.
Similarly, the Principal of Busari Alao College, Mr. Femi Onipede frowned at the non inclusion of private schools in the distribution of 65,000 face marks by the Kwara State Government.
“Our students are well kitted, including the staff. Virtually all our students are on ground. The school provided all the required protective kits. We are yet to get any materials from the Kwara state government. Maybe private schools are not captured.”
On the level of preparedness to curtail spread of the virus he explained, “we have an efficient running water system, soaps and sanitizer in the school. We have our first aid boxes readily available and in fact we have made provision for an isolated centre within the college in the case of eventuality.”
Also speaking, the Principal of Focal Point College, Olonande Samson, said the school has made available all the materials needed as required by the Kwara State Ministry of Education.
“All our students have complied with the directive of the Kwara State Ministry of Education in terms of the materials. We have gotten the temperature thermometer, hand washing basin and sanitizers.
“Prior now, the college authority had a meeting with the PTA and they all agreed to abide by government rules towards safeguarding the health of their children.
“The Kwara State government didn’t give us any kits. The college got protective materials for staff and students.
“We have fumigated our surroundings as instructed by the umbrella body of private schools. Our students and the staff are well kitted,” Olonande added.
However, principals of public schools in Ilorin have commended the state government for providing conducive environment for schools re-opening.
The Vice Principal, Government Secondary School, Ajibade Adeyemi said, “the Kwara State Government has given us all the needed materials towards containing spread of the pandemics. We have materials like hand sanitizer, nose marks among others. I am satisfied with what is on ground. The protective materials are enough for our students.
“About 90 per cent of the college’s students have resumed only those who are outside the state are yet to resume.
“The students have been orderly and have been adhering to all the rules set by the government. We have made adequate preparation and we are fully prepared for WAEC.”
In the same vein, the Principal of Bishop Smith College, Ilorin, Abimbola Oyebanji said, “We are happy about the schools resumptions because. There have been concerns about the academic pursuit of our students. We thank the Kwara state government over this development. We understand the government fear about this pandemic.
“What we first did, was to counsel the students on the need to comply with all the precautionary measures. We have fumigated our school premises and observing the social distancing, “he further said.
He confirmed that the school had received nose masks and hand sanitizers for staff and students.
Meanwhile, the Kwara State government on Monday distributed 65,000 face masks to schools the state ahead of Wednesday’s resumption of students preparing for the secondary school certificate examinations.
The face masks were distributed to senior secondary class three (exit) students as part the government’s efforts to flatten the curve of COVID-19 transmission in Kwara State.
Presenting the face masks to Bisola Ahmed, Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Kayode Alabi, Deputy Governor and Chairman of the Kwara State Technical Committee on COVID-19, said it was the first phase of the distribution.
Ahmed, on her part, noted that the government is making every effort to adhere strictly to the preventive measures as directed by the Federal Ministry of Education for the safety of students.