Akwa Ibom State government has announced its plans to stagger school days for Secondary schools with a population of over 2000 students.
The categorization, according to the state government, is to avoid congestion and overcrowding of classes as full academic activities commence September 28th for secondary schools and October 5th for primary schools.
The Secretary to State Government and Chairman COVID-19 Management Committee, Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem in a press briefing on Wednesday said students in JS1-JS3 will attend schools on Mondays to Wednesdays while SS1 -SS2 will attend from Thursdays to Saturdays between the hours of 8am and 2pm.
He said; “Primary six pupils had already resumed classes on Monday, September 21 while Primaries 1-5 are to resume on Monday, October 5, 2020 and ends 14th November 2020.
He said the SS1 students will resume September 28 and proceed on holiday from 6th-15 November 2020 and the JS1-SS1 will resume September 28 and end November 14.
“All schools will resume for the first term 2020/2021 academic year on November 16 and end January 30th, the second term will resume February 1, 2021 and end on Thursday 1st April 2021 for the Easter break. All schools are to resume for the third term of the 2020/2021 session on Monday 19th 2021 and end on Friday 23rd July 2021.
“First term 2021/2022 session will commence on 13th September 2021 and end on 17th December 2021.
The SSG assured that COVID-19 has significantly reduced in the state as a total number of active cases stood at eight, while the last tests of 75 persons produced no positive cases.
Ekuwem, however, advised parents and guardians to provide facemasks for their children as the state government will continue to follow the COVID-19 protocols earlier laid out for the reopening of schools.