By Abba Gwale
Kano State Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has said schools closure could only cause another tragedy of taking people back again, yet it would not stop the virus from chasing the students to their homes.
Ganduje said this on Friday while addressing members of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and some selected Head Teachers, in a stakeholders sensitization meeting on second phase of COVID-19 in Kano, held at Africa House, Government House.
In a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Abba Anwar, said though there is a dire need to fight the pandemic using all available avenues, but cautioned the citizens to clearly understand the repercussions of certain drastic actions in the process of mitigating the virus spread.
The governor added that the closure of schools would take students and the system of education back again.
“The issue is not that of closing schools. When you close schools, it is another tragedy also. Because if you close schools with the intent that you take students away from COVID-19, the same pandemic is capable of following them into their respective homes. So what are we saying? Ganduje asked rhetorically.
“It is because of this, that we exempted teachers from staying at home, U
unlike other civil servants whom we ordered must not come to work,” he added.
The governor also warned that COVID-19 protocols must be complied with, emphasizing that, “We must comply with all the protocols as provided by our able health workers. This is absolutely necessary.”
He assured the stakeholders of his government’s commitment in the free and compulsory primary and secondary education policy, and urged parents to help teachers and government in making sure that their children always comply with the protocols of COVID-19.
