The Lagos State Government on Friday endorsed the September 22 new school resumption date declared by the Federal Government.
A statement by
the Special Adviser to the Governor on Information and Strategy, Mr.
Lateef Raji, said health professionals working with the state on EVD
backed the government’s decision.
The
statement read, “Although this resumption date is advisory as education
is a concurrent matter to be regulated by the respective federal and
state authorities, Lagos State Government considers it eminently
justifiable, in view of the fact that there is currently no known
carrier of EVD in the state at the moment. Furthermore, the last
individual suspected to have been exposed to the virus will be
discharged from observation on September 18, 2014 if he tests negative
to the virus.
“All public and private educational institutions in the state are therefore directed to schedule their resumption accordingly.”
Raji
said the situation report available to the government showed that the
risk of infection with EVD in the state had been significantly reduced.
He, however, said government had taken measures to tackle any unforeseen situation concerning the virus.”
But
the Association of Primary Schools Head Teachers of Nigeria, insisted
on the October 13 date earlier announced by the Federal Government.
A
statement issued on Friday in Abuja by the National President of
AOPSHON, Mahmud Lawal and Secretary, Oluwale Adeola, read, “We demand
that the school resumption date be extended to October 13, 2014 earlier
announced and even beyond if need be, while giving government ample time
to provide all the necessary preventive kits to all schools because
education is for the living.”
AOPSHON
said that schools should remain closed until adequate preventive
measures were put in place to screen pupils resuming to school.
The
association said, “In view of the EVD scare, with reported deaths in
Lagos and Port Harcourt and a number of people still under surveillance,
the association is of the view that the Federal Government should have
maintained the October 13, 2014 resumption date earlier announced.”
Meanwhile,
the University of Port Harcourt Alumni Association has also thrown it’s
weight behind the Federal Government’s decision to shift the resumption
date for primary and secondary schools in the country to September 22.
