Hope of tertiary institution students returning to school soon was dashed yesterday, when Presidential Task Force (PTF) on Covid-19 confirmed that there was no plan yet to reopen tertiary institutions.

National Coordinator of PTF, Mr Sani Aliyu, in a radio interview, said PTF was, at the moment, concerned with measures that would flatten the curve and contain community transmission.

“We know that schools, together with restaurants, bars and other entrainment activities could encourage community transmission of the dreaded coronavirus, hence the reason we were not in hurry to reopen them.

“However, we have taken pragmatic measures to ensure we do not lose a whole year in terms of primary to secondary school transition, hence the president’s approval for schools to reopen so that exiting students could return to school and write their examinations some of which are regional.

“Summarily, there is no plan to reopen tertiary institutions until we get to the top of the numbers and also see clearly that we are making significant progress in terms of flattening the curve.”

On Monday, PTF announced some modifications to the phase two of the ease of lockdown as earlier approved by President, Muhammadu Buhari.

Chairman of PTF, Mr Boss Mustapha, said at the daily briefing that the president approved that schools should be reopen for Primary six, JSS 3 and SS3 students.

In addition, he said the president equally approved lifting of the ban on inter-state travels while maintaining the curfew time which starts from 10pm to 4am.

Sun