Kaduna state has shut down all public schools across the 23 Local Government Areas of the state due to concerns of a possible second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a statement on Tuesday morning, the Commissioner of Education, Shehu Muhammad Makarfi, disclosed that “ the ministry decided to shut down the schools due to the rising cases of COVID-19 infections in the state which show a replicate of figures recorded in the first wave of the pandemic in April, May and June 2020, indicating that a new wave of the infection is rapidly spreading across the state.
“The State’s Ministry of Health has further confirmed that, while the infections cut across age groups, this new wave especially, affects those between 10 and 35 years (which form a majority of the populace in the education sector).
” In its effort to contain the spread of the pandemic and save the lives of people in the state, the Kaduna State Government is directing all public and private schools to conclude all necessary arrangements and close on Wednesday, 16th December, 2020 as opposed to the initial closings.
“Therefore, all examinations must be concluded on or before Tuesday, 15th December, 2020 in all institutions of learning across the state).”
Shehu further stated that Physical classes in the Universities and other Institutions of Higher Learning will not be held during this period, and that Institutions can make other arrangements for teaching and learning and other activities, in line with their continuity and contingency plans.
The Governor of the State, Nasir El’rufai, had a few days ago, hinted of plans to lock down the state if citizens refused to abide by the COVID-19 protocols.