Ebola: Teachers urged to boycott September 22 schools’ resumption

Teachers in the country have been urged to boycott next week’s resumption of schools. The call was made by President of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Michael Olukoya.

The union boss said teachers had not received enough training and supplies required to protect against the Ebola virus, as promised by the government.

Olukoya said “The schools are still the same as before the outbreak. Teachers should be trained. They should be provided with the thermometers, gloves and hand sanitisers.”

Minister of Education, Ibrahim Shekarau had earlier this month directed schools to resume on September 22 after their re-opening was delayed due to the outbreak of the Ebola virus in the country.

The resumption date was initially shifted from September 15 to October 13 due to the outbreak, but the date was later moved forward to September 22.

In Nigeria, eight people have died and over 20 have been infected by the virus which has already killed up to 2,461 people mostly in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. The United Nations fears 20,000 people could be infected by the end of the year.