In a bid to curtail the spread of the deadly Ebola Virus, the Federal Government has extended the resumption of all private and public schools in Nigeria to October 13.
The Minister of Education, Ibrahim Shekarau disclosed this at a meeting with key stakeholders in the education sector, which included commissioners of education from all the 36 states of Nigeria.
Shekarau also said that the present summer coaching organised by most private schools in Nigeria be suspended with immediate effect.
He said, “All state Commissioners of Education and I met this day 26th August, 2014 to discuss issues related to the reopening of schools for the new academic year (2014/2015) vis-à-vis the Ebola epidemic issue.
“The meeting was also attended by senior officials of the Federal Ministry of Health. At the end of the meeting, the following decisions were arrived at as preventive measures to ensure the safety and well-being of all students in our schools throughout the Federation.
“All Primary and Secondary schools, both Public and Private are to remain closed until Monday 13th October, 2014 which is the new school resumption date for all schools throughout the Federation.
“This is to ensure that adequate preventive measures are put in place before the students report back to school. All State Ministries of Education are to immediately organize 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 15th September, 2014.”
He further 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.