By Martin Opara
Imo State Commissioner for Education, Prof. B.T.O Ikegwuoha, has thrown more light on why schools in the state have not re-opened despite the recent directive by the Federal Ministry of Education, as regards the re-opening of schools in the country that were compulsorily closed as part of measures aimed at controlling the spread of COVID-19 pandemic in the country.
The Honourable Commissioner, in a release he signed and made available to the press, stated that, contrary to the misleading information being peddled in some quarters that the federal government mandated all schools in the country to re-open on the same date, “what the Federal Minister of State for Education said is that, each state should reopen on or before 17th September, 2020, but could reopen after September 17, 2020.
Prof. Ikegwuoha, further said that, based on the peculiarities of individual states and recognizing the fact, that, “if there is any negative development about the safety of the pupils/students as a result of quick, the uncoordinated and ill timed reopening of schools some ill informed parents and the opposition who are always looking for loopholes to unleash their destructive antics will be the first to indict and blame the state government”.
He noted that, in view of these considerations the state government has mandated the Honourable Commissioner for Health to embark on the compulsory testing of all communities in the 27 LGAs and submit the report/result to the state exco to enable the government decide when best to re-open schools in the state.
He said the explanation has become the Hope Uzodinma shared prosperity government would not want Imo people to be deceived of the unpatriotic and mischievous opposition.
