*CSO demands covid 19 training before resumption
By Immam Moromoke
Private school owners in Kwara State have assured the Kwara State government of there readiness and preparedness to resume, stressing that they’ve put in place all necessary covid 19 measures.
This much was confirmed by Alhaja Mujibat Akorede-Suleiman, proprietress of D-Light Kiddies Academy Ilorin, via a Facebook post open letter addressed to the Kwara State Commissioner for Education, Hajia Fatimah Ahmed.
The post reads “My name is Hajia Mujibat A. Akorede-Suleiman, proprietress of D-Light Kiddies Academy, Opp GSS Roundabout, Ilorin. I’m an Educationist, early childhood specialist and business administrator for over two decades.
” I just want to appreciate you for finally giving private school owners hope and good news about resumption.
“I know it’s not easy for those of you at the elm of affairs. But with prayer and consultation at the appropriate quarter, it will be easier in Sha Allah.
I pray that Allah will always be there to support you and lead you aright in piloting the educational affairs of the state.
” I am aware that one of major challenges that KWSG is faced with has to do with the public school vis a vis the facilities available/to be provided, number of children per class, and how social distancing can be maintained, teachers orientation and awareness about COVID 19, etc. I’m also aware that most of the private schools had already made provision for all of these.
“Kindly note that there are mushroom lessons in hundreds and thousands without any regulations or provisions for social distancing, hand wash whatsoever which I think is even more dangerous to our children’s health and the society than being in organise setting known as formal school. Parents need somewhere to keep and engage their children, teachers need source of income to make both end meets, schools are closed and couldn’t pay salary for about six months because parents are not paying too.
“Some teachers therefore have no choice than to accommodate tens and hundreds of children in their houses taking *jeleosinmi lesson* which is even more dangerous as far as the pandemic is concern. This can be clearly seen in almost every community as well as in the Ilorin interiors. Allah knows best.
” I humbly want to suggest that if public schools are not ready for resumption, kindly discuss with our Executive Governor to allow private schools in the state to resume school. Be rest assured that *most private schools including D-Light school have already made provision for hand wash stand at the entrance, sick bay/isolation room, social distance seating arrangement in each classroom, fumigation already done, etc.* Kindly give it a thought and seek Allah for guidance.
“I’m also aware that AMIS-Association of Model Islamic School as one of the stakeholders in the state proposed a calendar that can be adopted with or without modification. This will ease your work and relieve you of that headache. Kindly give it a thought and seek Allah for guidance.
” I prray that Allah ease your affairs as you appreciate the efforts and perseverance of private school owners in the state” she added
Meanwhile, a civil society organisation People’s Advocacy Network, have cautioned the Kwara State Government from her plan to reopen schools and other academic activities without putting in place any Post COVID-19 precaution and preventive plans.
In the press statement released by its Assistant Publicity Secretary, Comrade Olaitan Abdulraheem, he made it clear that it will be tantamount to endangering the lives of Pupils, students and teachers by going ahead with her plan to reopen schools without Post COVID-19 training for school heads and teachers.
“We are very much aware that some states in the federation like Lagos, Osun have long commenced the training programme without delay. We do hope that the KWSG will follow suit as such a training programme will ensure that teachers in the state are well abreast of global transformational teaching techniques in the post COVID-19 era”, Olaitan stressed.
