EXCLUSIVE: See what Nigerian schools are doing ahead of school reopening

Olabisi Deji-Folutile

This is the new class setting at Grande Oakbridge School, Lagos. Photo Credit: Grande Oakbridge

From achieving six feet distance, constant sanitizations of door handles, provision of masks, staggered arrival, departure and break time in schools; as well as extending number of classrooms, Nigerian schools are taking different steps ahead of school reopening.

Although, the Nigerian government is yet to announce the date for schools’ resumption following their closure in March as part of steps to curb the spread of the COVID-19 virus in the country, these schools are already making adjustments to their operations and class arrangement in line with the new normal that coronavirus pandemic has brought to bear in almost every facet of life.

This exclusive package by Franktalknow.com focuses on what is being done in schools to ensure safety going forward.

School administrators, including the Executive  Proprietor, Ifako International Schools,  Mr.  Babawande  Majekodunmi;   Proprietor of  Grande Oakbridge School, Mrs H.R. Obalade;  Principal Consultant,  Brooke House Educational Consult,   Dr. Ifueko Omowunmi Thomas, Mrs Bukola Kuti-Ogunbanwo  of Building Blocks Montessori school, Ilupeju and  a school proprietor, Mrs Amba, all revealed the changes being made to their operations ahead of school reopening.

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Ifako International Schools provides compact furniture, cancels physical library

At Ifako International Schools, the school management is providing compact furniture (combined table and chair set). According to the school’s Executive Proprietor, Babawande Majekodunmi, the school is also keeping the physical library locked while investing more in the electronic library for easier disinfecting. The school is also providing mackintosh for the clinic mattresses. Once schools are open, the schools are disinfecting  all desks and other open spaces daily.

Majekodunmi said the entire school community is eager to have the children back at school only when it is safe for all stakeholders, especially the children who are currently learning remotely. “We are looking at international best practice on ways to keep our children safe.

Although the school is offering online teaching, he said online or home schooling is not a good replacement for school. He said, “Online or home schooling is not a good replacement.  Children have maximum hours of screen time that they should be exposed to in a day.  Going beyond the few hours is detrimental to their health.

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“Excessive screen time has also been linked to poor brain development by getting the right brain developed ahead of the left; instead of both halves to progress together. The home schooled child may have relationship and interaction issues. Issue of security while online is another big issue.”

Asked what the schools are doing in terms of layout or seat arrangement in the school to take care of social distancing, the schools’ executive proprietor said, “We have a number of classes that fall within the acceptable range – about 15 children in such classes. Larger classes will be split and some special rooms that are not safe because of this pandemic will be used for the overflow. Technology will be deployed for a seamless operation.”

On plans being put in place to protect students and teachers, he said, “We have had a Post Covid-19 resumption brainstorming session and reviewed some of the measures that we put in place during the Ebola saga of a few years ago. He said the school was awaiting the government guidelines, adding that depending on government guidelines, the school may have staggered school shifts: morning and afternoon / two days some three days.

He said parents’ drop-off and pick-up will be staggered and socialising in the school compound banned.

READ ALSO: What Ifako International Schools are doing in preparation for resumption

 

No out-door play at Grande Oakbridge School until COVID-19 is eradicated

The Proprietor of Grande Oakbridge School, Mrs H.R. Obalade, said in anticipation of school reopening the school is putting some things in place to protect students and teachers.

Some of these measures include mounting water basins at the entrance of the gates where teachers, students and indeed everyone entering the school will wash their hands with soap and water before sanitizing their hands.  The school has also ordered for thermometers to take the temperature of the students and teachers as they enter the school. Anybody with high temperatures will not be allowed to gain access.

Also, there shall be staggered arrival and departures at the school gate such that crowd at any point in time will be avoided. “Our door handles will be disinfected from time to time and teachers alone will be the one to open the door for the children. Concerning playground, children will not be allowed to play out-door until covid19 is completely eradicated,”  Obalade said.

“To say we have not missed our children is an understatement. No thanks to corona virus which has kept us at home for over two months. Our prayer is that the spread of the pandemic will be curtailed. This will allow the school to resume thus enabling us to do what we know  to do best- that is imparting and shaping the lives of our children, who are the future leaders of tomorrow.

“We started online teaching for our children since May 2, 2020 but we do not see this as a good replacement for physical classes in a normal school setting. There is need for eye contact for the children to absorb what we are teaching. With the online teaching, children could not go to the playground, morning assembly in the hall could not take place, and extracurricular activities could not hold.

“Management is not unaware of the danger of exposing our children to this virus attack. Thus, in anticipation that schools will resume soon, we are putting some things in place to protect our students and teachers.”

She explained that the parents have confidence in the management of the school, adding, “ We  know how precious these children are. We will ensure that adequate preparation is made to have a hitch free resumption.”

READ ALSO: What we are doing at Grande Oakbridge School in preparation for resumption-Obalade

At Brooke House Educational Consult, staff members must bring clearance from recognised COVID-19 test centres

At Brooke House Educational Consult, the Principal Consultant, Dr. Ifueko Omowunmi Thomas, said all members of staff have been encouraged to go for the test and return with clearance of Covid-19.

She said, “Secondly, we have mapped out a floor plan already to ensure distance between children. More washing bays are being set up at the entrance of school and sanitizer dispensers will be placed in every classroom.

The school has also purchased more temperature guns for checks at the entrance and also intermittently during lessons by the school nurse. “Face masks will be provided for staff, while parents will provide for their children. There will be extras in school for those days parents forget. The baby handlers will use hand gloves and sanitized overalls. School will be sanitized before the children come in, in the morning and after school every day.

On plans being put in place for teachers to ensure they are safe and healthy, she said, “Like I said before all the staff must come with clearance from recognized Covid-19 test centres. We will also encourage parents to do the same because there is no way to know if they themselves are not carriers!

“So for everyone’s safety, we must all get tested and cleared. This is the most critical step to ensure everyone is safe. Regular and constant sanitization of the school is the next step. We have a trained registered nurse in the school and a retainer with a good hospital for emergencies.”

To monitor teachers’ contact after school, she said, “Teachers are adults. They know not to hug and shake hands. Working even in the staff room will be at the specified distance and talking will be with their masks on. Monitoring can only be effective within the school premises. We do not have control over what teachers do outside of the school premises. We can only hope they will be sensible and keep to the guidelines.”

She said though the school sees the pupils on the zoom and Ms Teams classroom but it is not the same.  “We are very eager to hug and kiss our children, but we know we cannot because of Covid-19 social distancing. This is sad but it is the best for the children at this time.”

To her, online teaching is good but not a replacement to normal teaching. “Remote learning has come to stay. Remote learning is good but there cannot be a case of replacement. I see a good balance in the future.

“Social interaction and play are critical to the socio-emotional well-being, the cognitive, psychomotor and affective growth and development of the children particularly for Nursery and Primary school children.”

READ ALSO: Interview with Principal Consultant, Brooke House Educational Consult, Dr. Ifueko Omowunmi Thomas

At the Building Blocks Montessori school, only 8 kids can be on playground at a time

At the Building Blocks Montessori school, Ilupeju, Mrs Bukola kuti-Ogunbanwo, said the seat arrangement in the classrooms will be 1.5m to 2m apart. The school operates an early year and primary age education programme.

To ensure teachers are safe and healthy, the school will ensure that they are screened when school reopen using covid-19 procedure and questionnaire; ensure that they are informed, trained and instructed as to the correct use of cloth face mask; avoid direct contact with one another, for example, shaking hands and hugging; ensure frequent washing of hands with water and soap and sanitizer and making   resources available to them to practice uninterrupted hygiene.

She said outdoor plays will be in groups with teachers on ground to monitor the children. “There will be maximum of eight children at a time on the playground. This is designed to suit our current facility.”

The school said it is working closely with some public health officials to develop guidance on implementation protective measures which will be put in place. “This guidance sets out a hierarchy of controls which we will work through and which when implemented will create an inherently safer system where the risk of transmission of infection is significantly reduced,” she said.

READ ALSO:Interview with Mrs Bukola kuti-Ogunbanwo of Building Blocks Montessori school

We will decentralise Assembly, suspend club activities – Amba

 However, another school proprietor, Mrs Amba, said the school will decentralise the   assembly.  It will also suspend club activities till further notice.

Mrs Amba said school policies will be amended and new ones implemented especially in the areas of health, safety, security and day to day running and management.

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She said there will be no school runs till further notice. According to her, “Class sizes/ capacity must be reviewed with very few seats for social distancing. The school gate security will be beefed up with stringent measures for pick up and drop off.

“School will not allow visitors and parents in to reduce contacts.  Also, non contact thermometers, wash hand basins will be increased while hand sanitizers will be provided in addition to liquid wash.”

She believes school owners will need to be optimistic but futuristic in their thinking and management of the school. “The need for continuous sensitisation talks with all stakeholders cannot be over exaggerated. A pre- opening virtual meeting is very ideal,” she added

Though eager to see the children, she however has mixed feelings about school resumption, because to her, school business models will change.