NUC gives Universities 1 week ultimatum to submit a template for safe reopening
The letter reads below:
“Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities will please recall that, as part of the measures to contain and prevent the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), the Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Education, ordered the immediate closure of all Schools, including Universities on 23rd March, 2020. All Schools have since remained closed, until the recent decision to allow only Exiting Classes to resume to enable final year students to participate in the 2020 West African Senior School Certificate Examination including other examinations, to be conducted by NECO, NABTEB and NBAIS.
As Vice-Chancellors are already aware, following the gradual easing of the restrictions as part of the management of COVID-19, there have been several stakeholder consultations as well as meetings with the Honourable Minister of Education with the attendant clamour by concerned citizens for the reopening of Higher Education Institutions (HEIS) and resumption of academic activities. In the midst of all these, the Federal Ministry of Education had since developed and circulated Guidelines for Schools and Learning Facilities, to provide the required support for the safe reopening of schools and resumption of academic activities.
Cognisant however, of the peculiar circumstances and the distinct nature of the University sub-Sector, the National Universities Commission has developed the attached template, to generate data/
information on the preparedness of Universities for possible reopening and resumption of academic activities amid the COVID-19 Pandemic.
The template also provides for data on physical facilities such as infrastructure for Digital Delivery, Lecture Theatres, Halls and Classrooms, Laboratories/
Workshops/Studios; and students’ accommodation.
The University is also required to indicate the measures/strategies that have been put inplace preparatory to a safe and hitch-free reopening of institutions, in readiness for the commencement of full academic activities. Such information when generated across the entire sub-sector, will provide the Commission with a full picture of the challenges as well as guide policy options by Government.
I am to add that all duly completed templates are to be endorsed by the Vice-Chancellor and submitted to the Executive Secretary’s Office within one week, while also using the following email addresses on the letter.
Please accept the renewed assurances of the Executive Secretary’s highest regards.”
Credit: PressExpress