Reopening: Obey COVID-19 protocols or be delisted, NAPPS tells school owners

By SODIQ OYELEKE

The National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools has threatened to delist schools that refused to comply with COVID-19 protocols when they resume.

The National President, Chief Yomi Otubela, made this known in an exclusive interview with The PUNCH.

He explained that the association has set up a task force team that would ensure compliance.

“We are more than ready to resume. Any member that refused to obey the guidelines given by the Federal and state governments will be reported to the appropriate authorities and delisted. We are sure that our members will not default,” he added.

Otubela added that the school owners have been at the forefront of support for strict adherence to the COVID-19 safety protocols as recommended by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 and Nigeria Center for Disease Control within the school environment.

He said, “This assertion can be supported by clean bills of health received by various schools’ management during the earlier visits of government’s monitoring teams on  COVID- 19 safety protocols to schools in the country. For emphasis sake, the COVID-19 safety protocol practices in place in schools are as follows – enforcement of the use of face masks for learners, teachers, support staff and visitors.

“Provision of facility to ensure frequent washing/ sanitising of hands with alcohol-based hand sanitisers. A daily temperature reading of the learners, teachers, support staff, and visitors to the schools.

“Observance of the Physical distancing rule in classes and school buses. Visitors to the school are made to strictly follow COVID – 19 safety protocols otherwise they will be turned back from entering the school premises.

“No sick learners, staff, or visitors are allowed into the school premises. Availability of qualified health practitioner(s) within the school environment for monitoring the health of students, teachers, and others within the school environment.”

The Federal Government, on Thursday, banned overcrowding and large gatherings such as assemblies and visiting days, as schools reopen on Monday.

It also put limitations to class sizes and hostel occupancy and asked the schools to ensure the compulsory wearing of face masks by all students, teachers, and workers, as well as ensure temperature checks and put hand washing facilities in strategic locations in all schools

The government also asked the school authorities to ensure a constant supply of water and sanitisers, and make available functional health clinics with facilities for isolation and transportation of suspected cases to medical facilities.

The Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, gave the conditions in a statement by the Director of Press in the Federal Ministry of Education, Ben Bem Goong.

According to him, the decision to maintain the resumption date is the aftermath of “extensive consultation with relevant stakeholders, including state governors, commissioners of education, proprietors and heads of institutions, staff unions and students.”

Adamu told parents and the respective institutions to ensure full compliance with COVID-19 protocols. (The PUNCH)