Gbenro Adesina
The Ogun State government has announced that COVID-19 and malaria tests will be mandatory for returning boarding students as part of the protocols for school resumption.
The state had earlier fixed resumption of SS3 students for August 4, months after a nationwide halt of academic activities necessitated by COVID-19.
In a statement on Saturday, Ronke Soyombo, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Primary and Secondary education, noted that the state has made provisions for the two tests:
“The Ogun State Ministry of Health has made provision for a COVID-19 malaria test for all SS3 boarding students in Ogun State as part of the conditions for the re-opening of schools in the under listed Public Health Care facilities between Friday 31st July & Monday 3rd August, 2020:
“(a) Abeokuta: The 250 MTR, Okemosan, Abeokuta (a white edifice opposite the State Secretariat)
“(b) Ado-Odo Ota: Ogun State General Hospital, Ota
“(c) Sagamu: Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu.”
The government also announced that private hostels are exempted from accommodating students during the current period to ensure strict compliance with safety directives by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
The statement urged school principals to ensure the instructions are strictly adhered to as sanctions will be meted out to any defaulting school.
