18th March, 2020
Some private schools in Lagos have taken the bull by the horns by announcing closure from Thursday-without instruction to do so from the Ministry of Education.
This is coming as the Federal Government announced five new cases of coronavirus, bringing the national total to eight.
Schools still have two weeks to end the current term and this is a period many of them conduct the second term examination.
However, Head of Public Affairs Unit, Lagos State Ministry of Education, Mr. Kayode Abayomi, noted that the government had not announced school closure.
But some of the high-profile schools are suspending examinations to close immediately.
The schools include Greensprings School, which has branches in Anthony, Ikoyi and Awoyaya; and Lagos Preparatory and Secondary School, Ikoyi.
While Greensprings is closing March 18, LPSS shut down on Wednesday.
Both schools have opted for e-learning for pupils while they are at home.
Greensprings School’s Head of Admissions, Mrs. Oluranti Bankole said: “Learning will now be done online using the virtual learning platform and video conferencing. She added that the school had adopted the WHO crisis management grid for COVID-19.
In a notice to parents, LPSS said the closure was a result of the spread of the Coronavirus and the school’s international makeup.
“Due to the global spread of the Coronavirus and the international makeup of the LPSS family, we have decided to close the school to children today, 18 March 2020. Whilst formal lessons have ended for the term, we are unable to predict how these events may affect Trinity (third) term and so, primary and secondary students will come home today with their notebooks.”
Other schools like Berkely and Juilliard Schools and Chessington Montessori School, Agege, announced closures for Wednesday and Friday.
Chessington informed parents that bills and report cards “will be sent electronically”, while Berkley and Juilliard Schools promised to offer “skeletal services” to stranded parents.