Ebola: Apprehension as Schools Resume in Enugu, Bauchi, FCT, Others

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1. NUT keeps public schools shut in Abuja

Our Correspondents

Primary and secondary schools in Enugu and Bauchi States, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and other states yesterday reopened for the commencement of the 2014/2015 academic session in line with the federal government directive.

The federal government had directed all private and public primary and secondary schools in the country to reopen on September 22 in the wake of the containment of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

While some states insisted on shifting their resumption dates, others said they would resume monday.

In Enugu State, hundreds of students and pupils thronged to different primary and secondary schools within Enugu metropolis, just as schools such as University of Nigeria Secondary School, Enugu Campus, New Layout Secondary School and Purple Krown College provided disinfected water for washing of hands at the entrance to schools.

However, in some public schools, few students were seen milling around as teachers were not on sight apparently for fear of the dreaded disease.
Speaking to THISDAY, a student of New Layout Secondary School, Chigozie Okoro, 14, spoke of his joy at seeing schools resume.

‘‘I feel extremely happy to return to school again after all the long stay at home. I am also happy because I will meet my classmates and my teachers will be there to teach us.”

Following the outbreak of Ebola virus which has killed more than 2,400 infected people in West Africa according to the World Health Organisation, the federal government had shifted the resumption date to October 13.

But given that the government had said that there are no victims of Ebola in the country and following due considerations with stakeholders, a new resumption date of September 22 was announced by the Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau.

Avenue Primary School II.
However, the National Union of Teachers (NUT) had earlier asked all its members nationwide not to resume duties until adequate health gadgets are provided by the government to help schools take precautionary measures against the spread of Ebola.

When contacted, Commissioner for Education, Chris Okoro claimed his ministry was still making efforts to ensure the safety of the returning students and their teachers.

“Everybody is calling us from different places; you people should allow us to work. It is what you are asking us of that we are trying to do,” he said before hanging the phone.

But, an official of the NUT, Enugu State chapter who refused to have his name in print lampooned the commissioner for not doing enough to warrant resumption of schools.

In Bauchi State,we checks revealed that although the state government had promised to provide EVD test kits in public and private schools ahead of the resumption date, majority of the schools visited are yet to get the kits.

Many schools such as Government Secondary School, Kofar Wumbai, Federal Government Girls College, Fariah Foundation School, Community Secondary School, Bigi Junior Secondary School, Divine International Academy amongst many others are yet to get the EVD testing kits and infra-red thermometers.

The situation had caused many parents to raise questions over the safety of the lives of their children due to non-availability of the kits, saying adequate measures should be put in place before the schools resume.

A business man and parent, Mr. Gabriel Nwachukwu, said there was no need for the government to be in a hurry to let the children go back to school without putting adequate preventive measures on ground.

According to him, “there is nothing wrong in waiting one more week or two to make available the necessary facilities that will ensure the protection of the lives of the students. It is so sad that the government has not even purchased the infra-red thermometers on the resumption date.

Meanwhile, the state government had ordered schools in the state to resume yesterday as directed by the federal government and declared that all necessary measures to protect the students from any outbreak of the disease had been taken.

The Commissioner for Education, Alhaji Muhammad Aminu, said the state government’s would comply with the federal government directive.
He explained that the ministry of education had constituted a nine-man Response Committee to tackle any possible outbreak of disease in the schools, adding that all schools had been directed to appoint two desk officers on Ebola disease and create awareness on the proactive measures.

The commissioner said the state government would provide hand washing materials and thermometers in the schools to check the possible outbreak of the disease.

In Abia State, it was a case of different strokes for different folks yesterday as students of private schools started a new academic session while their counterparts in public schools were compelled to stay back home as teachers in public schools refused to return to work after the long vacation.

The teachers shunned the classrooms in obedience to the directive issued by the NUT which opposed the re-opening of schools without adequate protection for teachers and students against the EVD.

The directive was effective in the state as all the public schools, both primary and secondary, remained closed. Also, the federal government-owned schools, like the Federal Government Girls College, Umuahia and Federal Government College, Ohafia did not open their gates for students to resume academic activities.

The state government had procured and distributed 1,000 infrared thermometers to schools as well as hand washing kits and sanitizers in preparation for the commencement of the 2014/2015 academic session.

The Permanent Secretary of the state Ministry of Education, Mrs. Victoria Chigbu, said additional 1,000 thermometers and other accessories had been procured for distribution.
The ministry had also carried out sensitisation programmes and training on the Ebola virus for teachers preparatory to the commencement of the new academic session.

However, the teachers appeared not to have been impressed by the arrangement put in place by the state government to keep the dreaded Ebola virus out of schools in the state.

Instead of heading to the classrooms, teachers in public schools obeyed a directive issued by the state leadership of the union asking all teachers to converge at designated meeting points “for an important briefing” by their leaders.

The state education authorities may have misjudged the resolve of teachers to resist the resumption of schools on the date fixed by the federal government.
The Executive Secretary of the Secondary Education Management Board (SEMB), Chief Ndubuisi Umezuruike, had earlier in a directive announced on a state radio asking all teachers of public schools to resume classes immediately.

He warned that the board would monitor compliance but he was ignored by the teachers.

In the FCT, while many of the private schools resumed yesterday, some however postponed their resumption dates to September 29.

However, activities in public primary and secondary schools remained grounded due to the strike by NUT over what they said is the non-provision of protective and preventive gadgets against the EVD.

At some of the schools visited, pupils were screened with handheld thermometers before being allowed into the premises.
Pupils and visitors were also asked to wash their hands with the facilities provided.

THISDAY gathered that Premier International School in Wuse 2, Glory and Praise College, Kuje, which both resumed yesterday, had earlier sent text messages to parents to provide hand sanitizers for their children.

At Glisten Academy, parents were instructed that pupils with temperature exceeding 37 degrees Celsius would not be allowed into the school.

Living Faith Schools owned by the Living Faith Church however sent texts to parents announcing a resumption date of September 29.

THISDAY enquiries revealed that asides the NUT strike, many public schools would be re-opened fully after the approaching Eid-el-Kabir festival which would hold October 4 - 5, 2014.

Meanwhile, a meeting, scheduled for yesterday between the officials of the NUT and the Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau over the ongoing strike, did not hold.

The NUT’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Emmanuel Hwande, confirmed the cancellation of the meeting but disclosed that a meeting had been rescheduled with the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu for today.
Private Schools Resume as Public Schools Remain Shut in Abia