By Rabilu Abubakar, Gombe
Gombe State Governor, Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has approved the reopening of all public and private Schools in the state closed some months ago due to the covid-19 Pandemic.
By this approval, Boarding Schools are to resume on the 4th of October, while Day Schools, including Primary, Islamiyya and Tsangaya Schools are to begin classes on the 5th of October 2020.
Addressing newsmen on the development, the Gombe State Commissioner of Education, Dr. Habu Dahiru directed school administrators to adopt covid-19 safety protocols such as the use of face mask, social distancing, use of infrared thermometer to monitor temperature, provision of handwashing facilities and the establishment of school health committee where non exists.
Dr. Dahiru said the State Ministry of Education will provide parental and child assent forms for covid-19 testing to schools for testing of children who may opt to be tested.
He added that the Ministry will invoke the school readiness template to monitor the implementation of safety operations, protection and wellbeing, inclusiveness, financing monitoring, capacity building and coordination.
The Gombe State Commissioner of Education said learning centres established under the BESDA programme will also be open for teaching and learning activities.
According to the Gombe State Education Commissioner, these centres include girl-child and Tsangaya learning centres, calling on facilitators of these centres to report to classes on the day of resumption.
He said the Ministry of Education will engage proprietors of private schools, Parents Teachers Association, PTA, School Based Management Committees, SBMCs and Old Boys Associations to key into the safe school resumption programme of the state.
He said the state’s Ministries of Education, Health and the Task force on Convid-19 will ensure the establishment of functional clinics and isolation facilities each of the public and private boarding Schools.
While reeling out the Gombe State new school calendar, Dr. Dahiru said third term begins on Sunday October 4th to Friday October 23rd while First term will commence from Sunday 25th October to Friday 18th December 2020.
He added that Second Term will begin on Sunday 10th January to Friday 16th April 2021 while third term commences on Sunday 2nd May to Friday 6th August 2021.
