Ahead of the resumption of public schools in Oyo State, the state Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, has just concluded training of 2,454 Headteachers in the state, on COVID-19 preventive measures.
The training session, which was held across all educational zones in the state, started on Tuesday, September 8, 2020 and ended on Thursday, September 10, 2020.
Recall that the COVID-19 pandemic hit the country, since February 2020, eventually leading to the total closure of all educational institutions by government since March 2020.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Chairman, Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, Dr. Nureni Adeniran, said in view of World Health Organisation, WHO’s submission that COVID-19 might be with us for a while, the Board, in collaboration with the Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, have begun capacity building of all teachers at primary school level, as directed by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.
Adeniran added that the training is complementing the efforts of the Oyo State government in containing the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that the state government had earlier organized and funded training of School Administrators on COVID-19 preventive measures, for both primary and secondary school teachers.
He further said that the state government’s zeal is to prepare headteachers 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.
Urging facilitators at the training to follow stipulated measures, actions and recommendations put in place by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, and the Oyo State Emergency Operation Centre; Adeniran commended Governor Seyi Makinde, whose quality leadership and direction deployed into 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.
He also thanked UBEC for its collaborations with and supports for the state government; even as he declared that the state government proactively aligned some of its policies and actions along with the Federal Government, international agencies, and 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 of 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 the Oyo State Emergency Operation Centre focused on managing schools and ensuring safety in the post-COVID-19 lockdown; the concept and practice of social distancing and its implications; promoting personal and environmental hygiene and cough etiquette as safeguard against COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases.
Other topics include, observing other preventive measures against COVID-19 with the use of face-mask; dealing with the psychological effects of the pandemic and lockdown on learner and helping them to overcome the trauma and adjust 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.
