Lagos State House of Assembly has directed its Committee on Education to pay visits to public and private schools in order to assess their compliance with COVID-19 guidelines by the Federal Government.
The visits, according to the House of assembly, became necessary following the commencement of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) on Monday.
Mr Yinka Ogundimu, Chairman, House Committee on Education raised a Matter of Urgent Public Importance, which led to the House’s resolution.
Ogundimu explained that the state Ministry of Education had informed the committee that WAEC and schools had put in place necessary guidelines.
He noted that there was the need for the state to comply with the directives of the Federal Government on the resumption of students.
According to him, the staggering number of schools, including the number of teachers and students, required that the state legislators to monitor the ongoing WASSCE.
Also speaking, the House Majority Leader, Sanai Agunbiade, suggested that the lawmakers should visit schools in their various constituencies while the education committee should do a random visit to the schools in the state.
“The proposal of the committee is very good and we recognise that schools cannot close indefinitely.
“Lawmakers can visit the schools within their constituencies. Human beings are funny, schools might comply with the rules when they resume and relax later,” he said.
Also, Fatai Mojeed, representing Ibeju-Lekki Constituency II, said the committee should extend its visit to private schools within the state to ensure their compliance with the guidelines.
On his part, Hon. Hakeem Sokunle, representing Oshodi/Isolo Constituency I, said it was important for the students to maintain physical distancing and follow other COVID-19 procedures.
Sokunle, who is the Chairman of the House Committee on Health Services, suggested that the oversight function should involve the Health Committee.
He added that the report gathered before the resumption was that necessary facilities had been put in place.
The Speaker of the House, Mudashiru Obasa, who also supported the motion, said that schools in the state should be able to maintain physical distancing since other classes were yet to resume.
The speaker said that lawmakers should visit the schools within their constituencies during the ongoing examination.
The House, in its resolution, also called on Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu to direct the state Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, to conduct tests on the students to affirm their status.
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