Ebola: Schools To Remain Closed Till October 13

The Federal Government on Tuesday ordered that all primary and
secondary schools in the country should resume on October 13, 2014
because of the outbreak of Ebola in the country.The Minister of
Education, Ibrahim Shekarau announced the new resumption date after a
marathon meeting with all the 36 state Commissioners of Education in
Abuja on Tuesday evening.Shekarau, who briefed journalists after the
meeting, said all private schools in the country should also comply
with the directive.He added that schools should suspend their summer
programmes with immediate effect.According to him, each of the private
and public schools will be required to train at least two desk
officers in collaboration with ministry of health officials on how to
handle Ebola.He stated, "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."