The Federal Government has directed that all schools, both public and private, should remain in session throughout the period of elections.

Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, disclosed this to newsmen at the end of the stakeholders on education meeting held yesterday in Abuja.

According to the minister, the meeting of the education stakeholders, comprising of state commissioners of Education; executive secretaries of National Commission for Colleges of Education; National Board for Technical Education; Universal Basic Education and National Universities Commissions, has agreed that schools should remain in session throughout the 2015 elections.

He explained that three key issues are important in the decision reached on not to allow the general elections disrupt the normal school calendar.

He said, “First, the stakeholders have met today and approved that all schools are to remain in session throughout the period of the general elections. Elections have been held in the past while the schools are in session and more importantly, a lot of time had been lost to the closure of schools during recent Ebola crisis.

“Secondly, all those schools yet to go for mid-term break should put it on hold until after the elections, while those that are presently on mid-term break should resume immediately.

“Thirdly, those schools that will be used as polling units during the elections would be provided adequate security during the elections.”

The minister, consequently, appealed to parents and communities to comply with the decision of the stakeholders and government so as not to truncate the school academic calendars.

Shekarau stated further that since both public and private schools are under the supervision of either Federal or state governments, the respective states should ensure there is compliance not only in public schools, but also in private schools, which may be followed by sanctions where compliance fails.

Where there are exceptional accidents, which are unpreventable, the security operatives should be able to handle such situations, he assured.

•Adapted from Newswatch Times. Photo shows Shekarau.

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