NUC Begins Assessment of Universities Preparedness Ahead of Resumption

COVID-19: National Universities Commission (NUC) Begins Collation of Data to Assess the Level of Preparedness of all Universities Ahead of a Possible Resumption Date of Academic Activities Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic.The National Universities Commission (NUC) has commenced the collation of data to assess the level of preparedness of all universities ahead of a possible resumption of academic activities amid the COVID-19 pandemic.The Commission on 29th July, 2020 sent out a template to all Universities Vice Chancellors for collation of data on the level of preparedness ahead of a possible resumption of academic activities.Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities will please recall that, as part of the measures to contain and prevent the spread of of the Corona Virus (COVID-19), the Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Education, ordered the immediate closure of all schools, including Universities on March 23rd, 2020. All schools has since remained closed, until the recent decision to allow only Exiting classes to resume to enable final year students to participate in the 2020 West African Senior Schools Certificate Examination (WASSCE) including other examinations, to be conducted by NECO, NABTEB and NBAIS.
As Vice Chancellors are already aware, following the gradual easing of the restrictions as part of the management of the COVID-19, there have been several stakeholders consultations as well as meetings with the Honurable Minister of Education with the attendant clamour of concerned citizens for the reopening of Higher Educations (HEI's) and resumption of academic activities. In the midst of all these, the Federal Ministry of Education had since developed and circulated Guidelines for Schools and Learning Facilities, to provide the required support for the safe reopening of schools and resumption of academic activities.
Cognisant however, of the peculiar circumstances and the distinct nature of the University sub-Sector, the National Universities Commission (NUC) has developed the attached template to generate data/information on the preparedness of Universities for possible reopening and resumption of academic activities amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The template also provides for data on physical facilities such as infrastructure for Digital Delivery, Lecture Theatres, Halls and Classrooms, Laboratories/Workshops/Studios; and students accommodation. The University is also expected to indicate the measures/strategies that have been put in place preparatory to a safe and hitch-free reopening of institutions, in readiness for the commencement of full academic activities. Such information when generated across the entire sub-sector, will provide the commission with a full picture of the challenges as well as guide policy options by Government.I am to add that all duly completed templates are to be endorsed by the Vice Chancellor and submitted to the Executive Secretary's Office within one week, while also using the following email addresses: sbramon2001@yahoo.com, remibiodun2000@yahoo.com and cjmaiyaki@gmail.com.Please accept the renewed assurances of the Executive Secretary's highest regards.Chris J. MaiyakiDirector, Directorate of the Executive Secretary's OfficeFor: Executive Secretary.