As cases of COVID-19 continue to increase in the country, the House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education and Services has opposed the Federal Government’s decision to reopen schools on Monday, January 18.
The committee made its position on the matter known via a statement at the weekend by its Chairman, Julius Ihonvbere.
Ihonvbere claimed that the Federal Government did not consult the lawmakers before it fixed the date, adding that the cases of the disease are on the rise.
Ihonvbere wrote: “The committee on basic education and services, house of representatives, has received with concern the decision of the federal government to reopen schools on January 18, 2021.
“We are particularly concerned that when the infection rates hovered around 500 and under, schools were closed; but now that it hovers well above 1,000 infections daily, schools are being reopened. Why are we rushing to reopen schools without adequate verifiable and sustainable arrangements to protect and secure our children?
He added: “They did not consult us; at least in my committee, nobody from the ministry spoke to me. I have been in Abuja. And I am not sure that they spoke to any of my members. They just don’t see us as part of the critical stakeholders.”
Leave a Reply