When Will Tertiary Institutions Resume
It is no news that tertiary institutions in Nigeria have been closed down ever since the outbreak of Covid-19 also known as Coronavirus.
The question on most Nigerian students is when will School resume.
Recently, there is a widespread of a memo by SUG of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU) formerly Anambra State University (ANSU) about their resumption date.
THE OFFICE OF THE STUDENTS’ UNION GOVERNMENT (SUG),
CHUKWUEMEKA ODUMEGWU OJUKWU UNIVERSITY.This is to inform all students of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University that all year one students are thereby expected to resume on Thursday, the 13th of August 2020 in order to prepare for their first semester examination which will be commencing on the 20th of August 2020.
This was concluded by the school management, headed by our amiable Vice Chancellor in order to get every student qualified and ready to kick start the second semester simultaneously.The Clinical medical students are also expected to resume on the 13th of August 2020.
Resumption date of the final year students and other levels will be communicated as soon as possible.
All year one and clinical medical students are expected to adhere to the NCDC Covid-19 preventive measures.
Remember to always stay safeSigned:
His Excellency,
Comr. Arinzechukwu Gideon.
COOU SUG PRESIDENT
Reporting
Comr Stephen Sunday(Stephenson)
COOU SUG P.R.O
Zonahub.com called one of ANSU SUG officials to confirm the validity of this viral news. According to the ANSU SUG official, the info is legit.
This has brought hope to Nigerian students who are tired of staying at home.
Now the question is when will other tertiary institutions resume. As it stands, nobody knows until FG says so. But we are very hopeful that tertiary institutions will resume by September.
However, if even FG says tertiary institutions should open, it may not open because ASUU is still on strike.
According to Premium times in one of its post “Nigerian universities won’t resume even if FG reopens schools – ASUU” States that:
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has explained that Nigerian universities may not be reopened even if the federal government orders the resumption of all schools amidst the coronavirus pandemic.
The president of the union, Biodun Ogunyemi, in a telephone interview with PREMIUM TIMES, on Sunday, also clarified his position on the reports that the union urged the government not to reopen schools until 2021.
The government on March 19 ordered the closure of all tertiary, secondary and primary schools nationwide over the outbreak of the deadly virus in the country.
A few days after the government’s directive, ASUU commenced an indefinite strike, which is still on.
The union commenced the strike over the federal government’s decision to withhold the salaries of its members who defied the order of government to enroll in the Integrated Personnel and Payroll System (IPPIS).
While the federal government has now issued a guideline for resumption dates for final year students in primary and secondary schools, nothing has been said about tertiary institutions.
Mr Ogunyemi while speaking with our correspondent said, “First, we did not say schools should not be reopened until 2021. We only advised that schools be reopened anytime it is considered safe for our children.”
“They have brought out guidelines and conditions for school resumption, they must now supervise and ensure that those conditions are met. Beyond formulating policy, they must see to its implementation. So, we are saying it is not just a matter of putting things on papers but implementation from primary schools to tertiary institutions”.
Speaking further, Mr Ogunyemi said even if the government eventually reopens schools, it has nothing to do with universities battling with a series of crises.
“Talking of universities, it should be noted that the crises are beyond COVID-19. There are fundamental crises that will make universities reopening longer and impossible for now. We had long told the government our position and until they meet necessary conditions, universities are not resuming even after COVID”.
“There are outstanding issues and the government is not ready to fix our universities and provide enabling learning environment. For instance, we are talking about revitalisation… if our institutions are well equipped, there is no reason why coronavirus should stop academic activities.
“You cannot talk about social distancing in universities without talking about additional lecture rooms. So, we have two crises delaying resumption. The health crises and the refusal of the government to make our universities standard,” he said.
Mr Ogunyemi urged the government to pay as much attention to education as it is paying to health.
“Government should not pay attention to the health sector and neglect the education sector. If the could raise taskforce to look into COVID-19, they should do so to address the challenges of the education sector which include revitalization funds for universities so that our institutions can be up to standard.”
However, if it were in your power to decide when school will resume, when will it be.
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Meanwhile read this letter sent to all VCs in Nigeria
August 2nd Update: NUC Directs Vice Chancellors to Urgently Ascertain Level of Preparedness for Safe Reopening of Varsities
The National Universities Commission (NUC) has directed all Vice-Chancellors (VC) to ascertain their level of preparedness for safe reopening of Universities.
This was disclosed in a letter signed by NUC Executive Secretary, Chris J. Maiyaki.
The letter partly reads:
“Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities will please recall that, as part of the measures to contain and prevent the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), the Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Education, ordered the immediate closure of all schools, including Universities on 23 March 2020.
“All schools have since remained closed, until the recent decision to allow only Exiting Classes to resume to enable final year students to participate in the 2020 West African Senior School Certificate Examination including other examinations, to be conducted by NECO, NABTEB and NBAIS.
“As Vice-Chancellors are already aware, following the gradual easing of the restrictions as part of the management of COVID-19, there have been several stakeholder consultations as well as meetings with the Honourable Minister of Education with the attendant clamor by concerned citizens for the reopening of Higher Education Institutions (HEIS) and resumption of academic activities.
In the midst of all these, the Federal Ministry of Education had since developed and circulated guidelines for schools and learning facilities, to provide the required support for the safe reopening of schools and resumption of academic activities.
Cognisant, however, of the peculiar circumstances and the distinct nature of the University sub-Sector, the National Universities Commission has developed the attached template, to generate data/information on the preparedness of Universities for possible reopening and resumption of academic activities amid the COVID-19 Pandemic.
“The template also provides for data on physical facilities such as infrastructure for Digital Delivery, Lecture Theatres, Halls and Classrooms, Laboratories/Workshops/Studios; and student accommodation.
“The University is also required to indicate the measures/strategies that have been put in place preparatory to a safe and hitch-free reopening of institutions, in readiness for the commencement of full academic activities.
“Such information when generated across the entire sub-sector will provide the commission with a full picture of the challenges as well as guide policy options by Government.
The image below is a copy of the letter directed to VCs:
With this letter above, it means there is hope for tertairy institutios to resume this year.
Remain hopeful.
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