COVID-19: Akwa Ibom State Government Warns Against Online Re-Opening of Schools

Akwa Ibam State Government kick against schools Re-Opening and collection of fees for 3rd term of the 2019/2020 session.

The State Commissioner for Education Prof. Nse Essien during an interactive session on Monday (18th May 2020) with the state Education Think-tank committee and Education Statekeholders, warned that schools who defy this order may loose their operating license. He added that resumption date for both public and private schools will be announced soon.

The Commission when on to added that later in the week, a special website where all the lessons so far delivered on radio would be hosted to enable students to go back, revise and download both audio and lecture notes in lessons already delivered.

His words, “No School, both public and private is authorized to start the 3rd term 2019/2020 school year, either in Schools environment or online. Resumption of Schools for the school year will be announced when government is convinced that our children will be safe in Schools.

I have been reliably informed that some private schools have already started the 3rd term online and have asked parents and guardians to pay fees and purchase digital gadgets for their wards. This should be discontinued. Any School that goes contrary to this instruction will have its licence withdrawn and will be prosecuted.

We, however, encourage our schools to start online revision classes with their students who are still at home. This should be optional and should attract no fees. Parents are already overburdened by severe economic hardship as a result of the COVID-19 lockdown”.

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