The minister of education, Mr. Adamu Adamu has advised educational institutions in the country to take action and not wait for the federal government federal government announces the reopening of schools.
Speaking at the Joint Admissions Matriculation Board (JAMB) 2020 virtual policy meeting held in Abuja yesterday, Adamu who was represented by the minister of state for education, Mr. Emeka Nwajiuba also told educational institutions should not wait until the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) issues guidelines for resumption before taking actions.
“I urge all the heads of institution not to wait till the announcement on opening before putting in place all necessary measures in compliance with the protocols and advisories of the NCDC,” he said.
He said the government was seriously concerned about the lockdown of educational institutions adding that the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 was working with facts and figures to limit the negative effects of the pandemic
“We are making use of them (facts and figures) to respond to the challenges in such a way that we can limit and manage the negative effects of the pandemic,” he said
For schools to reopen, the minister said there should be hand-washing facilities, equipment for body temperature checks, body disinfectants at all entering points to their major facilities, including the gates, hostels, classes, offices, etc.
He also said the premises of each institution must be decontaminated while the institutions should also ensure maintain the highest level of hygiene as well as social/physical distancing in class sizes and meeting spaces
Thereafter, Adamu commended institutions that are engaging in inventions to counter the pandemic like ventilators, sanitizers, hand-washing machines among others.
“Such institutions should submit the inventions to the Federal Ministry of Education in order to name and honour some of the unique inventors. We also recommend that institutions purchase these home-made products. I am elated with the efforts that led to the production of Ventilator, Body Disinfectant, Hand Washing and Liquid Dispensers, Body Temperature Gauges, and more.”
The minister also expressed dissatisfaction with the increase in impersonation in the country
“All Institutions should ensure compliance with the timeline collectively agreed at this Policy Meeting on the completion of the admission exercise. No institution should recapture biometrics of candidates. JAMB has been directed to make biometrics available for all institutions and facial images of candidates available at no cost,” he said.
On the post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination fee, the minister said no institution should charge more than N2000 including bank charges.
He also said no admission should be made outside the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS).
“The ministry is monitoring compliance and we would not hesitate to sanction anyone who violates any of these directives,” he added.
JAMB’s CAPS is an admission processing system that is geared towards ensuring quality control, transparency and credibility of the admission process.
