The National President of the Private Education Developers’ Association of Nigeria (PEDAN), Elder Festus Awodoyin, has hailed Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for reopening schools.
Awodoyin, who spoke at a news conference in Lagos, said the governor should also be praised for tackling coronavirus which is seriously ravaging the world.
He said: “Before the resumption of SS3 students this week, the PEDAN had trained its members in how to handle the situation in schools.
“Our members had provided running water and soap which would be used by students and teachers to wash their hands. We had also provided hand sanitisers and thermometers. We had fumigated our schools.
“We had trained our teachers how to check students’ temperature. We expect parents to complement our efforts by providing face masks for their children.”
The Chairman, the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the PEDAN, Rev (Dr) Usen Effiong Usen, said: “We expect the government to provide education grants for private schools to cushion the effects of coronavirus”.
He said the government should grant non-interest loans to private schools to keep them running the post lockdown.
A member of the BOT, Mrs Ojikutu Esebamen, said the government “should suspend interest on existing loans given to provide schools until they reopen fully.”
She said: “We implore the government to suspend taxes, dues and levies charged private schools for one academic session to enable them recover after the COVID-19 pandemic.”. Gani Fawehinmi Prize for Human Rights Reporting) 2011 Nigeria Media Merit Award (NMMA).
.Child Friendly Reporting, 2011 Diamond for Media Excellence (D.A.M.E).
