The directive, dated 25th May, 2023, was issued by the Office of the Director of Senior Secondary Education Department of the Federal Ministry of Education, with reference number ADF/120/DSSE/I.

It was addressed to all Principals of Federal Unity Colleges.

The circular titled  “Approved fees/ charges for Federal Unity Colleges (1st Term) for new students”, signed by the Director of Senior Secondary Education, Hajia Binta Abdulkadir, revealed that the new students are now required to pay ₦100,000 instead of the previous fee of N45,000.

The increased fees will impact various aspects and activities of the school, encompassing tuition and boarding fees, uniforms, textbooks, deposits, exercise books, prospectus, caution fee, ID cards, stationery, clubs and societies, sports, extra lessons, insurance, and other expenses.

The memo emphasized that only the listed fees and charges have been approved by the ministry for all Unity Colleges.

The Minister of State for Education, Mr. Goodluck Opiah, disclosed this in Abuja on Thursday at a news conference to commemorate the 2022 International Day to Protect Education from Attack.

According to him, the 2022 celebration is the third edition with the theme, “Implementing the School Safety Policy as a Tool to Protect Education from Attack: Our Collective Responsibility”.

Opiah said that there was need for stakeholders to protect education from violent situations and armed conflict.

He said that upholding the right to education and its continuity in such emergency situations as enshrined in the Safe School Declaration, which Nigeria ratified on March 20, 2019, was an action to be taken by all.

“The theme was devised by the ministry to create awareness of the existence of the School Safety Policy.

“And also the need for state governments, education institutions and stakeholders, civil society organisations, the military, and the general public to operationalise the guidance therein.

“The School Safety Policy copiously highlights the strategies for emergency preparedness in education institutions, measures for harm reduction, stakeholders to contact for help in case of imminent attack, deterrence of the military from using education.

“Consequently, the ministry will celebrate the event with pre-activities and a grand finale.

“The pre-activities were initiated by call letters to education institutions to commence the preparation of learners that will perform at the occasion,” he said.

Opiah also reacted to an alleged attack on Federal Government College Kwali, which led to closure of all unity colleges in Abuja.
The minister said that the directive for the recent closure of all unity schools was imminent to protect schools and children from attack.

“The closure of unity colleges was not a permanent measure but a reaction taken to protect the lives and safety of children.

“It was a right action in the right direction and the ministry demands commendation for that action.

“This is because it was during examination period. The schools were shut but the students were taken to other schools to complete their examinations.

“Schools are about to reopen and FGC, Kwali will also join them. We are working with security agencies because the security of our children is very important to us,” he said.

The Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, disclosed this at the taskforce briefing in Abuja on Monday.

According to him, the measures were important to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease as the country battled the second wave of the pandemic which has also affected other parts of the world.

He said, “All government staff on Grade Level 12 and below are to stay at home for the next 5 weeks; Permanent Secretaries and Chief Executives are to be held accountable for enforcing NPI rules in their domains with frequent spot checks.

“The PTF on the advice of the Federal Ministry of Education, expects that schools would have vacated from the 18th December 2020 and remain closed till at least the 18th of January, 2021 to enable the measures introduced to take effect.

“All persons above the age of 60yrs and/or with comorbidities are to be encouraged to stay at home and avoid crowds.

“All non-essential travels – both domestic and international during the holiday season are seriously discouraged.”

This was contained in a statement,on Thursday by the Director General, Office of Education Quality Assurance, Ministry of Education, Mrs Abiola Seriki-Ayeni.

The statement was titled LASG directs schools to vacate on Friday, Decemeber 18, 2020′.

According to the statement, “the 2020/2021 first term academic session for public and private schools comes to an end on Friday 18th December, 2020”.

The statement read in part: “The Lagos States Government has directed public and private schools in the state to vacate on Friday 18th December, 2020.

“Therefore, all public and private schools below tertiary level in the state are to close for the Christmas and New Year holiday on that day. Schools are to resume back on Monday 4th January, 2021 in compliance with the Lagos State harmonized academic calendar.

“It is important to note that boarders are to resume on Sunday 3rd January, 2021 while academic activities commences immediately.

National Coordinator, Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Dr Sani Aliyu,  gave the order on Monday at the COVID-19 briefing in Abuja.

Dr Aliyu, while speaking on school reopening, said that PTF would like to re-emphasise adherence to non-pharmaceutical interventions by schools, particularly screening and heightening awareness with regards to COVID-19, following issues it had with Lagos State over outbreaks in some schools.

“Any student presenting with symptoms consistent with COVID-19, particularly respiratory symptoms or fever, should not be allowed to come to school.

According to him: “When teachers notice a child with respiratory symptoms, the child should be sent back home so that we can reduce the risk of transmission.

“Just as it is important to communicate effectively with parents, staff, school health teams should be creating protocols and providing regular updates on any change to the school procedures as it relates to COVID.

“We encourage schools to continue to consider creative solutions to abide by our COVID guidelines including staggered learning to avoid overcrowding, platooning, daily attendance and adjusting teachings among others.”

This was disclosed on Sunday via Twitter by the Lagos State Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso.

The commissioner, who had earlier tweeted that only public schools remained closed in the state but later gave an update that the extended closure includes private schools.

“The curfew in Lagos State has been reviewed. Restriction time is now 8 pm to 6 am. Lagosians are enjoined to plan their journey times as they go about their lawful businesses.

“All schools remain shut till further notice,” he said.

Earlier on Sunday, the National Association of Private Schools in Lagos State informed its members that they can reopen from Monday, October 26, 2020.

“Members are to abide by the curfew requirements and any other directives of Lagos State Governor relating curfew and #ENDSARS protests.

“We must equally study security situations in areas where we operate, be sensitive to any sign of disturbance, and adhere strictly to COVID-19 Protocols.

“To justify the kind gestures of the Commissioner, we must pay attention to the safety of our learners, staff, and parents of our schools.”

Recall that the Lagos State Government had on Monday, October 19, ordered the closure of public and private schools in the state indefinitely due to the violence that erupted after the massacre of #EndSARS protester at Lekki.

The government said a new date of resumption for all classes will be announced as soon as possible.

The Youths for the past 11 days have been protesting against police brutality, harassment and ex-judicial killings block major road across the country and crippling business activities.

This directive was issued by the Commissioner for Education, Mrs Folasade Adefisayo on Monday.

According to her, the safety of the pupils/students, parents and all staff working in schools was paramount “at this critical period.”

She, however, advised parents to keep an eye on their wards and not allow them to be used as willing tools in the hands of those who might want to hijack the protests to unleash mayhem on the society.

The Commissioner also encouraged schools to utilise other means of distance teaching and learning such as radio, television and online media as they have been doing during and post COVID-19 lockdown.

This was contained in a statement on Sunday by the Head, Public Affairs, Lagos State Ministry of Education, Kayode Abayomi.

Accoeding to the statement, the state will adopt a phased approach in the opening of public schools.

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

“The resumption will permit the present JSS 3 students who are already in an exit class to revise and get adequately prepared for their forthcoming Basic Education Certificate Examination organised by the Lagos State Examination Board and scheduled between Tuesday, 6th and Monday, 12th of October, 2020.

“The resumption will also afford the present SSS 2 students an opportunity to prepare effectively for their transition to SSS 3. The scheduled dates and venues for Entrance Examination into Lagos State Model Colleges will soon be announced by the State Examination Board.

“This phased approach to opening will enable public schools to 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 statement read in part.

It, however, advised that the reopening should be done in phases or staged so as to avoid another outbreak of COVID-19 especially on vulnerable groups who are returning back to schools.

It could be recalled that the Federal Government in March shut down schools across the country, as part of measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

However, with the number in cases declining, the Federal Government on August 4, 2020 announced the resumption of SS3 and JSS 3, so as to write this year’s West African Senior School Certificate Examination, which was slated for August 17, 2020, through September 12, 2020.

But speaking on Thursday during a briefing at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja, the National Coordinator of the Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19, Dr Sani Aliyu said the task force recommends phased return of students.

Aliyu said, “For educational institutions which include daycare, primary, secondary and tertiary institutions. Educational institutions should begin the process of working towards potentially reopening within this phase.

“However, strongly recommend that states conduct risk assessment to ensure all schools are at a level of compliance and create a monitoring mechanism to assess and create and monitor this level of preparedness.

“Meanwhile, all daycares and educational institutions to remain closed to in-classes until this level of risk is assessed. And if there will be opening of schools, it must be staged and preferably carried out in phases to ensure that this does not pose a risk to the general public and in particular to vulnerable groups that might end up getting infected by students going back home.”

Chairman of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, disclosed this during a daily briefing in Abuja, adding that the reopening of schools at this critical time amounts to exposing the general public to more danger.

“We get report that some states are considering reopening of schools, viewing centres and other gatherings that encourage large crown, such step is not encouraging at this moment. PTF is emphasising that it’s not yet safe to do so. We need to be cautious and adhere to the PTF guideline,” Mustapha said.

Mustapha, who is also the Secretary to Government of the Federation, SGF,  explained that the COVID-19 battle is no longer in the hand of health workers but rather in the hand of the general public, “before, health workers were our front line but that is no longer so, the war has shifted to the community, our health works are now our last line of defence.

“The war can no longer be won at the hospital, you are now responsible for protecting yourself, family and community, we must avoid large gathering and need to be responsible. PTF will remain conscious and adhere to precaution guidelines like social distance, face mask among others,” the PTF Chairman said.