The Government has asked schools to observe the gazetted school hours for learners. This latest communication comes at a time when some schools have been reported to be violating the set guidelines thus exposing learners to dangers. Of concern is situations where schools are forcing learners to attend remedial classes very early in the morning and late in the evenings. This exposes learners to insecurity.
Here is the latest communication to schools;
‘The Government takes note with concern that some schools are not observing the official gazetted school hours as per the Basic Education Act Regulations, 2015. Consequently, a lot of learners are picked by school buses in the wee hours of the morning, some as early as 4.30a.m.
This exposes them to safety risks and interferes with their growth and development due to inadequate sleep.
Regulation 84 of Basic Education Act Regulations 2015 prescribes the official school hours as follows;
1). All day public or private institutions official operating hours shall be Monday to Friday:
(a) 8.00a.m. to 3.30p.m for class hours
(b) 3.30p.m. to 4.45p.m. for co-curricular activities
2). No day institutions of Basic Education and training shall require learners to report earlier than 7.15 a.m.
3). All institutions with boarding facilities shall operate on 24/7 hour basis as follows;
(a) 8.00 a.m. to 3.30 p.m; for class Monday to Friday.
(b) 3.30p.m. to 4.45 p.m; for co-curricular activities Monday to Friday
(c) 500 p.m. to 7.30 p.m; for self-directed activities Monday to Friday
(d) 7.30 to 9.30 p.m; preps Monday to Friday;
(e) 9.30 to 6.00 a.m; bedtime Monday to Friday; and
C) 6.00 a.m. to 8.00 a.m; for supervised routine activities.
5). No boarding institution shall send away unaccompanied learner later than 9.00 a.m.
6). The latest reporting time for learners to boarding institutions shall be 5.00 p.m.
