Schools in Lagos State to Begin Phased Opening for the 2020/2021 Session from 21/09/2020

The Honourable Commissioner for Education, Lagos State Mrs Folasade Adefisayo has announced the plans for *both Public and Private Schools* resumption in the State after the lockdown of schools as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. We also wish to congratulate SS 3 students who have successfully completed their WASSCE exams and urge them to stay safe even as they await their results.

The plans for reopening for *a new 2020/2021 academic session* are as follows:

*PUBLIC SCHOOLS*

The Ministry is adopting a phased approach to opening *public schools* . This phased approach to opening will enable *public schools* meet COVID-19 social distance rules and safety protocols and will help us watch the behaviour of the pandemic as we gradually open up our schools.

The present JS 3 and SS 2 students in *public schools* in the State are to resume classes from Monday, 21st of September, 2020.

The resumption will permit the present JS 3 students who are already in an exit class to revise and get adequately prepared for their forthcoming Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) organized by the Lagos State Examination Board and scheduled between Tuesday, 6th and Monday, 12th of October, 2020. The resumption will also afford the present SS 2 students an opportunity to prepare effectively for their transition to SS 3. The scheduled dates and venues for Entrance Examination into Lagos State Model Colleges will soon be announced by the State Examination Board.

We assure parents that announcements for opening the other classes will occur as soon as we are certain of their safety. In the meantime, the unopened classes in *public schools* will continue their lessons on our various distance learning platforms (Online platform, radio, television and WhatsApp) while the next phase for physical resumption will be announced in due course.

*PRIVATE SCHOOLS*

*Private* Primary and Secondary Schools in the State are permitted to resume from Monday, 21st of September, 2020 and the State Government strongly recommends and encourages school owners to put safety first and open in phases similar to the plans for *public schools* . Phased opening also include strategies for staggered resumption in the mornings, classes on alternate days during the week and teaching through various distance learning methods. Schools must also comply with safety protocols and hygiene guidelines as instructed by the State Government through the Office of Education Quality Assurance (OEQA). The Office of Education Quality Assurance will continue to monitor and evaluate Schools’ preparedness.

Please note that *pre-primary classes and schools in both public and private schools* will remain closed until further announcements are made.

The State Government wishes to remind schools that the pandemic is still with us and we must in all situations, make the safety of our children, teachers and parents and our community as a whole our first priority.

Kayode Abayomi

Head, Public Affairs

Ministry of Education

13th September, 2020