Delta Tertiary Institutions to Reopen in Phases by 2nd October

Delta State Commissioner for Higher Education, Professor Patrick Muoboghare speaking to journalists yesterday (17/9/20), at Asaba

Delta State Commissioner for Higher Education, Professor Patrick Muoboghare has stated that Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education in the State are likely to resume academic activities in different phases by 2nd of July, 2020.

The commissioner who disclosed this during a press briefing at Asaba, yesterday (17/9/20), said that there have been prior interactions with heads of the institutions on preparation for resumption of State’s Tertiary Institutions.

Muoboghare explained that the decision to reopen schools was informed by the present decreased cases of Corona virus (Covid-19) in the country as well as the ability of Principals of Secondary Schools control Students who sat for WAEC examination in the State.

He noted that resumption pattern of the schools will differ because of their different academic stages at the time of shutting down the schools.

According to him, recommencement of academic activities will also be determined by the facilities on ground to prevent the spread of the virus.

“ when WAEC decided to fix a date for the final year students to write their exams, Delta State decided to key into it and that singular exercise because a dress rehearsal for us. They hay been able to write exams and now that we are bold enough to invite the JSS3 students and now Primary six students to school then we can invite the senior ones who are in the Colleges of Education, Polytechnics and the Universities.

“Before now, as at June/ July, we have been having interactions with the Vice Chancellors, Rectors of the Polytechnics and Provosts of the Colleges of Education on preparation for resumption.

“From July, they have been making preparations. Making sure that they have running water, supply of soaps and sanitizers, acquisition of face masks , then the thermometer, getting places in form of isolation centers in their health centers so that should there be any suspected case, we can isolate immediately and contact the Ministry of Health.

“The VC of the Universities, the Rectors of the three Polytechnics and the Provost of Colleges of Education said they could resume by 2nd of October in phases. Some will invite their final year students because they have their own arrangements. They have a lot of degree of freedom to work it out.
“ All programs and levels are not likely to resume at the same time except those that have the facilities that can accommodate social distancing”.
“There are those that feel they will invite their clinical medical students first, there are those that will invite their final year engineering and final year Law students first so that that could fit into the Law School Program.

He added that an inspection across schools will be conducted to ascertain their level of preparedness of resumption as regards Nigeria Centers for Disease Control (NCDC) safety guidelines on Covid-19.