TheCable

Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos, says the decision to reopen schools is in the best interest of “our children”. 

Schools were initially scheduled to reopen on January 4 but the resumption date was postponed over rising COVID cases.

The federal government later approved January 18 for school reopening in the country, with a directive of strict compliance with the COVID-19 protocol.

However, the house of representatives panel on basic education and services faulted the decision to reopen schools.

But speaking at a media briefing on Tuesday, Sanwo-Olu said a monitoring team has been set up to monitor compliance of the COVID-19 protocol in all schools.

“As you are aware, all schools in Lagos state have been directed to open in compliance and directive of the federal government and they have commenced schooling activities yesterday Monday, the 18th of January 2021”, he said.

“This was a very difficult decision to make in light of the second wave of COVID-19, but I can assure you that it was the best decision for our children at this time as their safety and long term development, especially our most vulnerable children. We have considered all the prognosis before we took this decision.

“The staff and management of the ministry of education, the office of quality assurance in the ministry, have all been monitoring compliance of both the public and private schools with the safety policies and protocol laid out and I can assure you that on a daily basis we would be monitoring the level of compliance and how things were turning out and we are just hoping and believing that people would do the right thing.

“I want to enjoin parents to ensure that the protocol of safety are adhered to at homes and that they model responsible behaviour for their children at all times, in and out of their homes.”

Lagos is the epicenter of the disease in the country.