The Federal Government has taken far-reaching decisions to curtail the spread of the deadly Ebola Virus in the country as it postponed the resumption of all primary and secondary schools till October 13.
Announcing the shift in resumption date in Abuja, Minister of Education, Ibrahim Shekarau, said the decision to do so became necessary in view of the risk posed by Ebola which could easily spread through schools.
His words: “All primary and secondary schools, both public and private are to remain closed until Monday October 13, 2014 which is the new school resumption date for all schools throughout the Federation”.
The schools were originally scheduled to re-open in the second week of September.
Shekarau, who briefed the press at the end of a meeting with state commissioners of education, added that all on-going summer schools were also affected with immediate effect.
Further, he said the change in the resumption date was also to enable the Federal and state governments, as well as school authorities put in place adequate preventive measures before the pupils returned to school.
“All state Ministries of Education are to immediately organise and ensure that at least two (2) staff in each school, both public and private, are trained by appropriate health workers on how to handle any suspected case of Ebola and also embark on immediate sensitization of all teaching and non-teaching staff in all schools on preventive measures. This training of staff must be concluded not later than September 15, 2014”.
He directed states Ministries of Education to establish Working and Monitoring Teams for effective supervision of school activities before and after opening of schools.
“Each state Ministry of Education should appoint a designated Desk Officer not later than September 1, 2014, who should also receive appropriate training and who must report on daily basis to the Honourable Commissioner on situation in the schools. The names of such Desk Officers, their phone numbers and e-mail addresses should be communicated to the Headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Education not later than September 1, 2014.
“All primary and secondary schools, both public and private should be provided with a minimum of two (2) Blood Pressure Measuring Equipment by the State Ministries of Education. The State Ministries should determine the number of such equipment required and forward same to the Federal Ministry of Education not later than September 1, 2014. Ministry of Education will liaise with the Federal Ministry of Health to ensure that appropriate equipment are procured,” he added.
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