Shift in School Resumption Date, a timed bomb in the Making.

The wake of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) has no doubt changed a lot of things our nation- these changes have all been with positive intents.

The outbreak had been reported months before the entry of Patrick Sawyer into the country. And the Nigerian Government did nothing to prevent its entry into the country.

The deed had definitely been done, and there was need for pro-activeness within sectors of the nation’s economy in order to prevent the spread of the EVD.

‘Discouraging large gatherings was one of such, but we still have large gatherings every now and then.’

‘Overloading buses (molue) was supposed to be another of such, but we still see it happening around us.’

‘Another of such would have been to discourage over-crowded queues in banking halls like the ones we still see.’

The Lagos State Government, no doubt, deserves applause. The scare within the State has dropped, and people are going about their normal lives with the consciousness of the EVD.

The Federal Government, in its bid to curb the spread, announced a shift of the resumption dates for private and public primary and secondary schools all over the country to October 13th.

This announcement came with many disadvantages:

    • Summer lessons were stopped;

    • As a result, smaller private
      schools never paid their
      teachers August salaries;

    • The same schools told their
      teachers not to bother showing
      up in September;

Imagine a teacher who earns as low as N 12, 000.00 a month, with some extra income from private home lessons- with the decision by the federal government, such teacher would have to stay idle for about 3 months, earning nothing.

No doubt, when schools eventually re-open, the pupils, students and parents/guardians would be at the receiving end:

    • Teachers are angry, and will
      pour such anger on the pupils
      and students;

    • Schools will take away the
      grace period for payment of
      school fees;

    • In a bid to close-up the school
      calendar, the pupils/students
      would be loaded beyond usual;

    • In an attempt not to overload
      the pupils/students, they
      would be short-serviced-
      paying the same fees for less
      service.

The announcement of the reversal of the postponement sounded like a relief, but the government is yet to put things in place to checkmate the spread of the EVD. And this has given room for irrational fear.

Most private schools are not aware of those things that should be put in place. They are only aware of hand-washing!

The government should have educated schools on pro-active measures; produce education videos (jingles are not enough) on the EVD for schools to use in educating pupils, students, staffs and parents.

The NUT on the other hand, is made up of teachers in public schools. If the resumption date is moved forward, they will still get their salaries and other allowances. Give and Take, it does not affect them in any way. Instead, it puts them at an advantage- getting paid for doing no work!

To further compound this, the NUT has threatened a drastic action (most likely a strike) if the date is not moved forward.

The Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education and the House of Representatives should weigh the decision from every side.

I strongly believe that States should be allowed to take this decision in collaboration with their Ministries of health and education.

Moving the date is not the solution, but putting things in place to curtail the spread of the virus.