No fewer than 17 medical students of Kaduna State University (KASU) recalled for examinations have tested positive for coronavirus.
Chairman KASU Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Comrade Tukur Abdulkadir, disclosed this to reporters on Friday.
He said the positive cases have vindicated the union’s opposition to reopening of the institution.
He said: “As you are aware, the management of Kaduna State University has opened the university and plans to conduct examination beginning from Monday, 19th of October, 2020.
“To this moment, Kaduna State Government has not officially announced the re-opening of tertiary institutions. Although the 2019/2020 academic session has been significantly affected by Covid-19 lockdown, re-opening the university at this material time is tantamount to trading the lives of students and staff for the conduct of the examination.
“The decision by the management of KASU to re-open is in gross violation of the Covid-19 Protocol as highlighted by the Presidential Task Force (PTF) and the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
“This action also violates the standard provision and regulations guiding conduct of University examinations.
“Let this be known to the general public, almost all the guidelines as stipulated by PTF/NCDC are not in existence in Kaduna State University at the moment.
“Students congregate very closely without facemask, and hostels are overcrowded. It is on record that some weeks ago, 17 out of about 50 medical students who were recalled for examination tested positive to Covid-19.”
He said the examination proposed for October 19 was not feasible because students were not given sufficient time for revision.
Besides, he alleged the institution have not been following COVID-19 protocols, hinting there were neither adequate spacing nor Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) for students and lecturers.
He warned there might be a spike in COVID-19 infection considering the institution is not residential.
