Ebola: Imo Schools’ Resumption Date Indefinite

Students and pupils of Imo State public schools will have to wait for a while before resuming school as the state chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) said it would join its national body in ensuring that their demand for preventive measures against Ebola are put in place in all the public schools in the state.

Speaking to LEADERSHIP in his office along Port Harcourt Road, Owerri, the state chairman of NUT, Dr Cletus Iwu Okeke maintained that the state NUT would abide by the decision of its national body to ensure a safe environment for its students.

He, however, pointed out that the state NUT has no powers to announce resumption dates for the schools, noting that government at both the national and state levels would consider the schools’ academic calendar before announcing a date for their resumption.

Nevertheless, he said that the NUT as a major stakeholder would always make input considered to be in the best interest of the children’s education.

“NUT argued that materials necessary for the prevention of Ebola should be provided in the public schools; anytime the facilities are made available, the national body will approve the resumption dates,” Okeke said.

When LEADERSHIP visited Owerri Girls Secondary School, some students were seen going out of the school premises with their luggage, claiming that they were asked to go home by their teachers.

A female teacher in the school who did not want her name in print said, “All I know is that we have resumed even if you saw the students going away.”

Meanwhile, private schools in the state have complied with the federal government’s directive on the resumption date.

According to the state president of private proprietors, Chris Ineh, their compliance was based on the health facility provided by the federal government.

Tweet