The Abia State Government has announced reopening of primary and secondary schools in the State on Monday, 28th September, 2020, to complete the 3rd term of 2019/2020 academic session with one week of revision classes.

This was announced in a statement signed by the State Commissioner for Information, John Okiyi Kalu, after the State Executive Council Meeting held at the Banquet hall of Government House, Umuahia, Thursday.

The State Government also disclosed that the third term (promotion) examination which is expected to start from Monday, 5th October to Friday, 16th October, 2020, will be used to assess pupils/students based on the tutorial from first and second term, as well as the radio and television classroom program.

According to the Government, the first term of 2020/2021 session for primary and secondary schools in the State will start on 26th October, 2020, as teachers will go on one week break to enable them mark and compute promotional examination results.

It stated that the term will end on the 23rd of December, 2020, and further revealed that the State Commissioner for Education, Dr K C K Nwangwa, will publish other details related to school resumption, including protocols to ensure the protection of school children from COVID-19 infection, approved fees chargeable by private schools and other guidelines.

Parts of the statement read, “the Executive Council approved the resumption of Tertiary institutions in the State based on the time table and protocols submitted to the state government, as will be announced by the management of each school.

“The State Executive Council, SEC, noted improvements in internally generated revenue (IGR) collection and directed Abia State Internal Revenue Agency and Heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA) in the state to redouble efforts to ensure that the set target for 2020 is achieved regardless of the disruptions occasioned by the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic.

“The Executive Council approved the establishment of road maintenance committees in all the Local Governments of the State to ensure the achievement of the zero pothole policy of the state government.

“The State Executive Council Meeting approved the constitution of a committee that will oversee the transmutation of Abia State Road Maintenance Agency (ABROMA) to a limited liability company that will bid for road maintenance and construction jobs independent of government funding. Members of the Committee led by the Secretary to State Government, Barr Chris Ezem, include the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr Uche Ihediwa, Commissioner for Works, Elder Bob Ogu and Commissioner for Information, Chief John Okiyi Kalu”.