An Educational expert, Professor Sidikat Ijaiya has urged the Federal Government to make sure there is proper assessment of all schools before reopening the educational institutions in Nigeria.

Professor Sidikat Ijaiya, an ex-Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academics, University of Ilorin revealed this during a recent interview with newsmen in Ilorin.

According to her, assessing schools has to be done before the resumption of educational activities if the government wants to prevent schools from becoming epicenters of the COVID-19 pandemic.

She added that despite the constant fear amid the outbreak, something has to be done for schools to resume.

Her words, “If you destroy education, you destroy humanity.

“So, it is time for all well-meaning Nigerians to speak up on the side of education, especially to assist the government on possible strategies to adopt in the reopening of schools without an upsurge in the spread of the pandemic.

“In Nigeria, the challenges of our public schools are worrisome already without the COVID-19 pandemic; from overcrowded classrooms to the poor sitting arrangement, stuffy classrooms, poor infrastructure, poor hygiene, shortage of classrooms and teachers.

“There are classes with 50 to 150 students, especially in big towns and cities.

“Pupils are sitting on mats and bare floors in some schools. How do we manage that in the face of the pandemic.”