Benue State Government on Wednesday approved Monday, September 21, 2020, as reopening date for all primary, secondary and tertiary institutions in the state.
Commissioner for Education, Prof. Dennis Ityavyar, who disclosed this in a statement, directed all public and private schools and institutions in the state to abide by the directive.
Ityavyar explained that the resumption was for the first term of 2020 and 2021 academic session, stressing that third term for other categories of pupils and students except JSS3 and SSS3 had been cancelled including payment of school fees.
Parts of the statement read, “Let me emphasize on the issue of school fees so there is no confusion because if the third term is cancelled, school fees for the term is also cancelled.
“But in the case of JSS3 and SSS3, parents are expected to pay their third term fees.
“However, those who have not done the third term, they don’t need to pay fees and this applies to private and public schools.”
He added that stakeholders in the education sector in the state had resolved that all tertiary institutions be fumigated and COVID-19 protocols strictly observed.
According to him, parents are to provide facemasks and hand sanitizers while school authorities would provide handwashing facilities and also monitor compliance with social distancing in terms of sitting arrangement.
Professor Ityavyar added that schools with large population would have to operate morning and afternoon sessions to avoid congestion.
He stressed that strict monitoring would be carried out to ensure compliance.
