Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State has postponed the resumption of schools in the state until January 25, 2021, due to the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Commissioner for Education, Prof. Bernard Ikegwuoha, made this known in a statement released to journalists on Monday in Owerri, the state capital.
He noted that the reason for the postponement was due to the rising cases of COVID-19 in the urban areas of Owerri West, North and the Owerri Municipal Local Government Areas.
Ikegwuoha said community testing was ongoing in the 27 councils of the state and would be completed on or before January 21, 2021.
The commissioner said that the state government would take a decision on a particular line of action to be taken upon completion of the exercise.
The statement reads: “The state Ministry of Health and that of Education would ensure strict compliance with COVID-19 protocol on the part of schools as a prerequisite for resumption.
“All defaulters of the COVID-19 protocols would be sanctioned accordingly and proprietors and principals of schools should be on red alert.
“Before we can reopen or resume, all the COVID-19 protocols must be compulsorily observed. Our monitoring teams will ensure strict compliance.
“Imo would have resumed its schools on Jan. 18, 2021, but for the rise in Covid-19 infections in three LGAs of Owerri municipal, Owerri North, and Owerri West.
“Government decided to watch the situation; consequently, January 25, 2021 is the tentative date for the resumption of schools in Imo.’’
