Soji Ajibola, Ibadan
Oyo State State Universal Basic Education Board has trained of 2, 454 head teachers on Covid-19 preventive measures ahead of September 21, 2020 resumption of public and private schools in the state.
The training session which started on Tuesday, September, 8, 2020 was held across all educational zones in the state.
In his address at the occasion, the Executive Chairman, Oyo SUBEB, Dr. Nureni Adeniran, said in view of the World health organisation’s submission that Covid-19 might be with “us for a while, the board in collaboration with Universal Basic Education Commission, has begun capacity building for all teachers at primary school level as directed by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.
He added that the training is complementing Oyo State Government’s efforts in containing the spread of COVID-19 pandemic, noting that the state government had earlier organised and funded training of School Administrators on COVID-19 preventive measures for both primary and secondary school teachers.
Adeniran said that the state government’s zeal was to prepare head teachers for a safe and hitch-free reopening of schools and learning facilities, while it takes into consideration the health, safety, environmental protection and security of learners, teachers, education personnel and families.
He urged facilitators at the training programme to follow stipulated measures, actions and recommendations put in place by the NCDC and Oyo State Emergency Operation Centre.
He commended Governor Seyi Makinde, whose quality leadership and direction deployed in containing Covid-19 in Oyo State has helped leaders at all levels in Nigeria to adapt and adopt sound policies and strategies so far used in fighting the pandemic in Oyo State.
He also thanked UBEC for its collaboration and support for the state government.
He also said that the state government proactively aligned some of its policies and actions along with that of the Federal Government, international agencies, MDAs, so as to prevent the escalation of the disease within school environment and the entire populace.
Adeniran added that proactive steps of the Board, through its Learning-on-air programmes cushioned the devastating impact Covid-19, otherwise known as SARS-COV-2, might have had on pupils and the primary education sector.
The six major topics in the training, organised by Oyo State Emergency Operation Centre, focused on managing schools and ensuring safety in the post-COVID lockdown; the concept and practice of social distancing and its implications; promoting personal, environmental hygiene and cough etiquette as safeguard against COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases.
Other topics included observing other preventive measures against COVID-19 with the use of face-mask; dealing with the psychological effects of pandemic and lockdown on learner and helping them to overcome the trauma and adjusting to the realities of the disease; and identifying and responding to learners showing signs of illness.
The training was witnessed by representatives of UBEC, Nigeria Union of Teachers and Association of Primary School Headteachers of Nigeria.