Ebola: FG reverses decision, schools to resume September 22

The Federal Government of Nigeria has reversed its earlier decision to re-open schools on October 13, 2014. Schools across the country will now resume on September 22, 2014. The new decision followed series of meetings with education stakeholders in the country.

The government had earlier directed that all public and private nursery, primary and secondary schools should remain closed till October 13 while the country tackle the spread of the Ebola virus disease.

The Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, who announced the new decision today, September 5, in Abuja after an emergency meeting with state Commissioners for Education however warned that measures put in place to curb the spread of Ebola are still intact.

The minister also directed all Federal Government colleges to comply with the new pronouncement
Shekarau also said that any state Ministry of Education that has not appointed designated desk officers on Ebola information should do that before the resumption date.

According to him, all state ministries of education should ensure that at least two staff in each school – both public and private are trained by appropriate health workers on how to handle any suspected Ebola case before schools resumed.

Immediate sensitization of teaching and non-teaching staff in schools on preventive measures should also commence and be concluded before the resumption date.