COVID-19 and the future of Nigerian students

Education is the only instrument that paves the way for remarkable positive changes that lead to a better and a brighter transformation of every human society. Other sectors like health, economy as well as security all depend on education to prosper.

The likes of Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) and the Nigerian Police Academy (NPA) are typical examples illustrating the fact that the security sector and its effectiveness depends on the efficiency of educational sector.

The same thing applies to health sector medical colleges i.e Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABTH), Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) and many more depend also on the performances in the educational sector.

Therefore, education should not be something that should be mishandled or neglected by government simply because of the fear that COVID-19 is out on rampage for the second time. Another way of resolving this issue has to be found.

High rate of criminal activities ranging from kidnappings, banditry and many more could be attributed to the closure of our higher institutions of learning. Our youths are sitting idle at home, with nothing to do. This is so dangerous and can lead some students to engage in nefarious activities. So many instances have been confirmed by our armed forces that majority of those who engage in crime that are being caught are mostly youths.


And it is a well known fact that youths are the backbone of any society for any meaningful development. With the continued closure of our schools, the future of our youths is bleak.

Why wouldn’t the Nigerian government take some steps to curtail the spread of coronavirus by adopting some strategies and guidelines already taken by some developed countries to promote education, instead of keeping our universities and colleges closed due to the so called Covid-19 ?

Take China as a case study. In Beijing, it has been reported that some students were given personal thermometers and are required to take their temperature twice a day while at school.

In eastern China also, school children are given hats to wear that measure their feet across, to remind them to keep a safe distance from others.

Also, in Denmark and Norway primary and secondary schools, classes are held outside playgrounds and many school libraries are closed.

In Israel, it has been reported that parents have to sign a health form confirming that their child does not have the coronavirus. If a family member has the coronavirus, then the child will not be permitted to go to school.

Also in Japan, Taiwan and China primary and secondary schools, staff members are taking student’s temperature before they enter school buildings. Children with fever are sent home.

So, why shouldn’t the Nigerian government emulate these strategies from these developed countries instead of shutting down schools?

In a nutshell, I am optimistic that the aforementioned health prevention measures and strategies would be equally taken to reverse the current trend of closing our schools permanently.

Mallam Musbahu Magayaki,
Sabon Fegi, Azare,
Bauchi state
[email protected]

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