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Private universities in Nigeria have asked the federal government to permit them to reopen for academic activities amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The institutions made the request in a letter addressed to the National Universities Commission (NUC), Daily Trust reported. Private universities say the continuous closure of universities could hamper the productive future of students. Photo credits: Premium Times Source: UGC The universities through the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Private Universities (CVCPU), warned that the academic calendar would be seriously affected if universities remain closed beyond one more month. According to the vice-chancellors, the continuous closure of the universities could hamper the productive future of students. The vice-chancellors noted that they have decided to put in place the COVID-19 safety protocols that can make private universities reopen and operate safely. The institutions requested the NUC to make a strong case with the government to allow the universities to reopen for academic activities within the next one month. Meanwhile, the Oyo state government has announced the cancellation of third term calendar for students in all primary and secondary schools in the state due to Covid-19 crisis. Governor Seyi Makinde announced the decision on Tuesday, July 20, as contained in a statement by the state commissioner for education, Olasunkanmi Olaleye. Olaleye said the decision was reached during the state executive council meeting at the government house in Ibadan on Tuesday, adding that the 2020/21 academic session will begin on September 21 and end on July 30, 2021. In another report, a non-governmental organisation known as OpenFees has said if Nigeria can manage to conduct elections into political offices despite the COVID-19 pandemic, students should not be stopped from writing the 2020 West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
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The group in a statement issued on Sunday, July 19, in Abuja, cautioned the federal government not to play politics with the education of youth, This Day reported. The organisaion said it would be possible for junior secondary schools 3 (JSS3) and senior secondary 3 (SS3) to write their exams if the government can invest half the time and resources it wants to use to conduct elections, despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
