School reopening: Gov Abiodun bows to pressure, declares COVID-19 test free for returning students
- Governor Dapo Abiodun has declared COVID -19 test free for all returning SS3 students in Ogun state
- Some parents had on Monday, August 3, protested over N25,000 imposed for COVID-19 test for SS3 students
- Abiodun, however, ordered the refund of the money to those who had already paid for the test
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Following the protests that greeted the proposed N25,000 for COVID-19 test for the exit students in the state, the Ogun state government on Monday, August 3, bowed to pressure.
The Nation reports that the state government led by Governor Dapo Abiodun declared COVID-19 test free for all returning Senior Secondary Students (SSS3) in private and public schools.
Legit.ng gathered that the government also instructed testing centres to commence the free test immediately, adding that those who had already paid for the test should be refunded.
Governor Abiodun, who disclosed this in a statement, also stepped down the COVID-19 test as a mandatory requirement for returning students in exit classes.
Source: Twitter
He said: “After reviewing these developments, I have today immediately directed that the government laboratories carry out the test for all returning SS3 boarding students at no cost. I have also directed that all those who have paid for tests be refunded.
“The health of our children remains our utmost priority, however in view of the total number of boarding students to be tested (5,340 private and 500 public) and bearing in mind the limitation of our installed testing capacity of 500 tests per day, it may not be feasible for all boarding students to get tested and get their results prior to the resumption or even exams which commence on 17th August 2020."
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Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that the decision of the Ogun state government to impose a mandatory N25,000 payment for COVID-19 and malaria tests for returning boarding students in private schools sparked protests among parents.
It was reported that the SS3 were expected to resume schools ahead of their West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), but the government mandated each student to undergo a test as a precondition for resumption into school.
In another report, the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 condemned demands by some states that students should present the results of their coronavirus test before they could be allowed to return to the classroom.
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Source: Legit.ng
