Nigerian government issues two metres physical distancing guideline for students ahead of resumption

The Nigerian Government has ordered students to stay two metres apart, as part of its guidelines ahead of the resumption of schools at every level in the country, but was silence on the resumption date.

Penpushing reports that, this was contained in a document released by the of Federal Ministry Health and National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) education emergencies working group and signed by the minister of education, Adamu Adamu on Monday

The  document also showed that where the two-meter rule cannot be reasonably applied, other risk mitigation strategies may be adopted, stressing that, ”examples include early years, younger primary school children, and those with additional needs”.

“The scenarios require organising learners and children into small groups with consistent membership and compliance to the risk mitigation strategies. The membership of these groups should not change unless the NCDC public health guideline suggests otherwise,” the document reads in part.

The document also disclosed  that the government will conduct a rapid assessment and determine funding requirement for upgrading infrastructure and facilities to sustain prescribed safe school reopening requirements.

Penpushing further reports that, the 52 page document said it was time for the education sector to plan and address the eventual safe reopening of schools and learning facilities, while the guidelines also recommended  the review of existing policies, practices, and risk mitigation strategies in the use of schools for other purposes.

The document noted  such as distance learning centres, temporary shelters, isolation, quarantine and treatment centres, markets, voting centres, among others, with the government emphasizing that it is its duty to provide comprehensive guidelines .

“As a responsible government, it is also our duty to provide comprehensive guidelines for a safe and hitch-free reopening of schools and learning facilities. We do so knowing that the health, safety, and security of learners, teachers, education personnel, and families are priorities,” the document reads in part.

The document recommended what government called, “systematic, phased, safe reopening that factors resource availability to meet basic requirements and differentials in coronavirus effect (e.g., fumigation and disinfection of schools; provision of learning material; impact and vulnerabilities across schools, learning facilities, communities, localities, local governments, and states).”