Parents Kick As Ogun Govt Charges N25K For Compulsory COVID-19 Test For Returning Boarding Students

Hundreds of parents whose children attend private schools in Ogun state on Sunday protested against the state government’s decision to charge the sum of N25, 000 on per student before testing for the compulsory COVID-19 ahead of their resumption on Tuesday, August 4.

Following the Federal Government’s directive for SSS 3 students to resume on August 4, 2020 in preparation for the West African Senior School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE) which starts on August 17, the Ogun state government had in a statement on Friday, July 31, said boarding students must present a COVID-19 certificate that confirms that they’re not infected with the novel disease before they can be re-admitted into boarding houses.

According to the state government, the tests must be conducted between Friday and Monday, August 3.

The statement reads in part: “The Ogun State Ministry of Health has made provision for a COVID-19 malaria test for all SS3 boarding students in Ogun State as part of the conditions for the re-opening of schools in the under listed Public Health Care facilities between Friday 31st July & Monday 3rd August, 2020:

“(a) Abeokuta: The 250 MTR, Okemosan, Abeokuta (a white edifice opposite the State Secretariat), Ado-Odo Ota: Ogun State General Hospital, Ota, Sagamu: Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu.”

The government also announced that private hostels are exempted from accommodating students during the current period to ensure strict compliance with safety directives by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

The statement urged school principals to ensure the instructions are strictly adhered to as sanctions will be meted out to any defaulting school.

However, the parents, who besieged the MTR specialist hospital venue of the test on Sunday, queried the rationale behind the levy which they said they did not prepared for.

The protesters also queried why government would impose any levy on students of private schools while their counterparts in public schools were tested free, arguing that the disparity was against the electioneering manifesto that brought in the present administration of free education.

They further argued that, covid-19 test shouldn’t be compulsory for students since the state government had instructed all schools to make adequate provisions for testing of their students before they resume in their respective school.

Speaking with journalists, the Vice Chairman, Parent Teachers Association (PTA) of one of the private schools in state, Dr. Kehinde Sanwo questioned why government should discriminate between students in public and private schools adding that, they are all children of the state that should be treated equally.

“The parents here are good citizens of Ogun state which we are tax payers. And it is so disheartening that we are here at the MTR hospital the venue for covid-19 test.

“When we arrived here, we are told pay N25,000. Whereas, some people who arrived earlier paid nothing. So, we don’t know where the decision came from. Some of us have more than two children. Why these segregation?”, she queried.

Speaking with journalists at the venue of the test, Director of Public Health, Dr. Olukayode Soyinka said he was not aware of the N25,000 covid-19 test Levy on private schools students.

Soyinka said covid-19 test before now had been free, stressing that he was just instructed by the state commissioner for health, Dr. Tomi Coker to make himself available at the venue to provide conducive environment for the students.

He however disclosed that, the test was organized by the state government in conjunction with a private laboratory company, 54gene under the Public Private Partnership arrangement.

One of the officials of 54gene declined comments on the ground that he lacked power to speak to the media.

He however explained that, his company’s activities at the testing ground had the approval of the state government.

When contacted, the Special Adviser to the state governor on Primary and Secondary Education, Mrs. Ronke Soyombo said the state government would soon take position on the matter.

“Can you please give me like 2-hours to respond to your inquisition because as at now, we are putting our heads together to be able to take a position on the matter”.