School resumption: Toying with deadly virus

Etim Ekpimah

Students of public and private primary and secondary schools in Lagos State, on Monday were seen playing with their friends unrestricted during break and closing periods within the school premises.

Many of them were excited as they had been out of schools since December last year coupled with shaky thoughts from both the state/federal governments whether to reopen schools.

Our correspondents who monitored the schools reopening in Lagos State, said some students who are not of the same parents were seen holding hands together, and with some thrusting their hands into the others’ pockets without recourse to social distancing.

“These are foods for coronavirus,” said a visitor to the school, who identified himself simply as Babatunde.

Babatunde was worried when he saw the students displaying the characters that are common to them.

He added that both the state and federal governments did not prepare for school reopening, noting that governments are exposing students to lethal consequences of the coronavirus to please some investors.

A Vice-Principal at Elepe Community Junior High School, who only allowed the use of her surname, Mrs Adejumo, said the school has adopted necessary strategies to prevent students from contracting the deadly virus.

Adejumo stated that apart from providing hand sanitizers as well as running water for students and visitors to wash hands, the school has also limited school attendance to three or two times a week.

She said: “We have four Infra-red which are handled by teachers and health officers. JSS I and JSS III are to come to school on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, while JSS II are expected in school on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

“We have also reduced class size to a maximum of 65 students. You may say the figure is high, but let me tell you, the number of students is high. With this number, we are able to space them appropriately.”

Adejumo, however, stated that no student is allowed into the school without putting on their facemasks.

An SS I student at Elepe Community Senior High School, who was not wearing her facemask, but only showed it to one of our correspondents, said facemask is only useful when entering classes.

She added: “There is no big deal wearing facemasks outside the class. It is suffocating.”

The administrator at Kingsfield College, Ijede Road, Ikorodu, Mr Yemi Amolese, said the school has reduced class size to 25 for large ones, while for small classes, the size has been reduced between 11 and 12.

About hand sanitisers and running water to wash hands, he said the school has provided enough of the items. He noted that there are over 30 handwash basins indoors and more than 12 handwash taps outdoors and, with infra-red.

“The school cannot allow a student in without wearing a facemask. It is a policy here. We have to protect them; they are the reasons we are here,” he said.