Elections: FG Decides Schools Closure Today

In its efforts to ensure free and fair
elections and one that is violence free even after the exercise, the federal government will today decide whether schools, both private and public should be in session or go on break.

This has come as a result of several
outcries from students, parents and
other stakeholders in the sector who
have been calling on the federal
government to see the need to shut
down schools, at least for two weeks as recent developments within the
country have clearly shown that
schools are targets for the aggrieved.

The minister of Education, Mallam
Ibrahim Shekarau who disclosed this at the weekend during a dinner with media executives and the Education Correspondents of Nigeria (ECAN) said “As far as the federal government and the Ministry of Education are concerned, nobody has made a statement concerning the closure of schools.”

“However, we are aware that there are agitations and conflicting views with some stating that schools should be closed and there will be no need to go to school.

“To address this issue, the ministry has summoned all commissioners of education and other stakeholders for a meeting by Monday (today) 2pm so that the issue can be discussed.

“It is not just a matter of the ministry sitting in the office and dishing out directives.

There is a need to meet with
stakeholders so that the benefits or
otherwise of the closure of schools can be discussed but with the interest of the nation first.”