Schools resume Sept. 22- FG

The Federal Government has directed all public, private primary and secondary schools to resume on Monday, September 22, 2014.

Minister of Education, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, who said this on Friday in Abuja while briefing newsmen after an emergency meeting with state Commissioners of Education, stated that preliminary measures put in place to curb spread of the Ebola Virus Disease is still intact.

Shekarau said that any State Ministry of Education that has not appointed designated Desk Officers on Ebola information should do so urgently before the resumption date.

He urged state governments to support their state Ministries of Education with all necessary funds to ensure effective implementation of the preventive measures.

He said, “We have now agreed that Primary and Secondary both pubic and private will reopen and begin formal classes on Monday, 22 September 2014.

While this is in place we have decided to continue the preventive measure.

    "All primary and secondary
     schools, both public and private
     should be provided with a
     minimum of two blood pressure
     measuring equipment by the
     Ministries of Education. The
     state ministries should
     determine the number of such
     equipment required and
     forward same to the Federal
     Ministry of Education."

    "The Federal Ministry of
     Education will liaise with the
     Federal Ministry of Health to
     ensure that appropriate
     equipment is procured. Those
     states that have not complied
     with this agreement should
     please do so."

    "State governments are called
     upon to support their state
     Ministries of Education with all
     necessary funds to ensure
     effective implementation of
     these preventive measures.
     Regular washing of the hands is
     part of the preventive measures.
     There must be steady supply of
     water in schools. All states
     should ensure that this is put in
     place as the schools reopen."

Shekarau urged all state Ministries of Education to establish a working and monitoring team for effective supervision of school activities before and after opening of schools.

According to him, each state Ministry of Education should appoint a designated Desk Officer who should also receive appropriate training and who must report on daily basis to the Commissioner on situation in the
schools.

    "The names of such Desk
     Officers, their phone numbers
     and e-mail addresses should be
     communicated to the
     headquarters of the Federal
     Ministry of Education,” he
     added.

The meeting was also attended by senior officials of the Federal Ministry of Health.

Punch