Wednesday, 10 September 2014

Ebola: House to Re-examine Schools’ Resumption Date



The House of Representatives has asked its Committee on Education to take another look at the resumption date announced for private and public schools in the country. This directive was necessitated by growing concerns amongst the public, especially parents and guardians of students, over the recent decision by the education authorities to reopen schools for the 2014/2015 academic session on Monday, September 22, 2014 despite the threat of the Ebola Virus Disease which has killed seven people in Nigeria. In the wake of the outbreak of the dreaded disease in the country, Education Minister, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, had announced a postponement of the resumption date of schools from September to October 13, so as to give the country's health authorities enough time to ensure the containment of the disease. But in reaction, private school owners had vehemently opposed the revision of the resumption date, compelling the Federal Ministry of Education to bring forward the date for schools to reopen to September 22, after a meeting with stakeholders in the sector.
But responding to inquiries from journalists yesterday in Abuja, the Deputy Chairman, Media and Public Affairs in the House of Representatives, Hon. Victor Afam Ogene, stated that the House leadership resolved to mandate its Committee on Education to take another look at the issue “in the overall interest of the pupils and students, parents, guardians and the general well-being of the entire country. Ogene said: You will recall that upon the outbreak of the dreaded Ebola virus in Nigeria, the House Committee on Health rose up to the occasion by interfacing with the health authorities, the result of which is the positive containment efforts and call-off of the strike by doctors in the country.
Thisday Newspaper

No comments:

Post a Comment