Just in: NCDC Clears Air on School Resumption

NDCD the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, has said that reopening schools now would further spread the coronavirus in the country because of the nation’s weak health system as well as the very low risk perception of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr Yahya Disu, the Head, Risk Communication, NCDC, who made this known during a webinar hosted by the Plan International Nigeria’s Country Director, Hussaini Abdu, with the support from the European Union, said with the onset of the wet season which comes along with an increase in flu-like diseases, children run the risk of contracting and spreading COVID-19 if schools are reopened now.

The title of the session was, Rethinking Education: Perspective and Challenges of Remote and Alternative Learning in COVID-19 Pandemic. Prof. Mabel Evwierhoma of the University of Abuja suggested that the government should take a cue from some private higher institutions of learning by investing in blended or mixed learning to surmount the COVID-19 pandemic. And also develop campus radios to support remote learning in higher institutions.

According to Disu, re-opening schools will further spread the disease, as there is no good level of compliance. He said the risk perception by the public is still very low and it is because the population structure consists mostly of youths who may have the disease and not have symptoms (asymptomatic).

He added that since majority of pupils go to school in vehicles and the transport sector is known to have poor record of compliance, School children are also not going to comply and it could spread the disease among them.