The Federal Ministry of Education has deemed the COVID-19 test unnecessary for students to return and be admitted into their schools.

Ministry spokesman Ben Goong told NAN in Abuja on Monday as schools resumed for the academic year.

“School authorities should therefore refrain from asking students or parents to undergo COVID-19 test before they are accepted in their schools,” he said.

Mr. Goong advised that temperature checks be carried out on students and any other persons before being let into school premises.

Peoples Gazette reported on Monday how the committee on basic education at the House of Representatives had criticized the Federal government’s move to have schools resume nationwide on Monday.

The committee suggested a three-month break for schools across the country, to monitor the Covid-19 numbers and infection rates while safety measures were put in place.

The committee said in its resolution obtained by Peoples Gazette on Sunday that less than 10 percent of educational institutions across the country have safety protocols to limit the spread of the virus.

The Federal Government had insisted on January 18 as the mandatory resumption date for schools, despite thousands of new infections recorded in the past week as the second wave continues to ravage the country.