The outbreak of the COVID-19, Coronavirus, has led to a series of institutional amendments across all sectors in the country, especially education.
The Nigerian Government on Thursday, 19th of March, ordered the closure of all the 104 Unity Secondary Schools in the country. This closure is to be effective from Thursday, 26th of March, 2020.
Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu also ordered that all private and public schools in the state be closed from Monday, 23rd of March to prevent communal spread and protect the health of schoolchildren.
At the tertiary level, The National Universities Commission (NUC) on Friday, 20th of March, ordered that all universities in Nigeria be closed, to prevent further spread of the virus. This nationwide closure is scheduled to commence from Monday, March 23, 2020, and it is expected to last for a minimum period of one month.
In the circular used to transmit this information, Deputy Executive Secretary Suleiman-Ramon Yusuf said,
“As part of the measures to contain and prevent the spread of the coronavirus (covid-19) throughout the country, approval has been granted for the closure of all school.”
Tertiary institutions across the nation have already taken action in regards the closure. Although some universities, like the University of Lagos, were already on strike, suspending academic activities. The Dean of Student Affairs, UNILAG, ordered that students leave the hostels on Saturday, 21st of March.
These orders are in-line with the recommended social distancing advised from the World Health Organization to manage the pandemic situation and curb communal spread, to enable the healthcare system adequately cater to all confirmed cases.