The Lagos State government has denied shutting down two private schools over fears of COVID-19 outbreak.
A statement on Tuesday night by the state Ministry of Education noted that the schools didn’t get shut down based on an order from the government.
It however confirmed that two schools in the Lekki area of the state took the decision to shut down themselves as a precautionary measure to curb a suspected case of COVID-19 infection.
The schools were identified as Lagoon Girls Secondary School and Standard Bearer Secondary School in Lekki.
The spokesman for the ministry of education, Mr Ganiu Lawal, said contrary to earlier reports, the ministry did not order the closure of two private schools.
“The reported closure of two private schools in Lekki did not follow a directive from the Government, as speculated in the media,” the statement noted.
“A preliminary finding by the Lagos State Ministry of Education, according to the Hon. Commissioner for Education Mrs Folasade Adefisayo, revealed that the closure of the two schools was a decision of the school proprietors to pre-empt the likelihood of further spread of a reported Covid-19 case by a parent at Standard Bearer Secondary School, Lekki.”
“However, The Ministry has contacted the management of both Lagoon Girls Secondary School and Standard Bearer Secondary School in Lekki and the schools confirmed the closure as a proactive measure. The school owners further revealed that learning will continue online until the coast is clear that students and staff of the schools will be safe to have physical contact.
“The Commissioner advised school proprietors to adhere strictly to Covid-19 preventive measures to ensure the safety of students and staff. Parents are urged to remain vigilant to ensure that the State Government’s efforts at reducing the negative effect of Covid-19 are not fruitless,” the statement concluded.
Meanwhile, bandits who attacked and kidnapped students of Bethel Baptist Church High School Kaduna have called the school management.
It was gathered that the kidnappers also disclosed that they have 121 students in their custody.
They however assured the school that the abducted students are in good health and not to worry.
This article was originally published on Nigeria News