BY LINUS CHIBUIKE
THE Kaduna State Government has shut all schools across the 23 Local Government Areas of the state.
This, it said, became imperative following an upsurge in COVID-19 cases in the state.
All schools in the state were directed to close as from Wednesday, December 16, 2020, according to a statement by the State Commissioner for Education, Shehu Makarfi, on Tuesday.
He said the measure was necessary to contain the spread of the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the state.
Makarfi said the rising cases showed a replicate of figures recorded in the first wave of the pandemic in April, May and June 2020.
“The ministry wishes to inform the general public, parents, guardians and students of the date of school’s closure due to rising cases of COVID-19 infections in the state which shows a replicate of figures recorded in the first wave of the pandemic in April, May and June 2020, indicating that a new wave of the infection is rapidly spreading across the state,” he said.
According to him, the state Ministry of Health has confirmed that the new wave of infections affects mainly those between 10 and 35 years. This is the age range in the education sector.
The commissioner, while giving the closure directive, said all examinations must be concluded on or before Tuesday, 15th December, 2020 in all institutions of learning across the state.
He added that physical classes in the universities and other institutions of Higher Learning would not be held during the period of closure.
According to him, institutions can make other arrangements for teaching and learning and other activities in line with their continuity and contingency plans.
“Learners in the basic, post basic and secondary school levels could continue learning while at home from the Kaduna State TV and Radio e-Learning Programmes,” the statement added.
