As the controversy surrounding the September 22 resumption date for Nigeria’s primary and secondary schools continues to build up, private schools in Lagos have been taking measures to safeguard their pupils against the deadly Ebola Virus Disease.
But this is not the case in public schools in the state, where there are no physical measures showing their readiness for resumption in the face of the threat of the disease.
Our correspondent who visited a cross section of schools saw things like wash hand basins, infrared thermometers and sanitisers in the schools’ premises.
For instance, two wash hand basins with running water and liquid soaps had been installed at the entrance of the Hallmark Nursery and Primary School, Ikeja, Lagos for visitors, workers and students. Artisans were seen installing two additional basins.
The school chairman, Mr. Okey Nwobia, said the management thought it was necessary to increase the number of the wash hand basins to avoid congestion at the taps when pupils resume.
“The school has also taken delivery of 11 automatic soap dispensers for outside and inside, including the toilets. We are also installing hand dryers to be mounted all around the school so that as people are washing their hands, they can also dry them. We don’t want to put towels because nobody wants to use a towel that has been used by 50 people. We have changed all the tiles in the toilets,” he said, adding that the school was in the process of buying infrared thermometers.
Nwobia showed our correspondent round the school to see the improvements being made ahead of pupils’ resumption on Monday.
“Anyone that comes with high body temperature will be asked to go to the hospital,” he added.
At the Royal Master’s School, also in Ikeja, Lagos, soap and running water were provided for visitors at the gate.
At the reception, a hand sanitiser dispenser has been mounted on the wall for the use of visitors and their pupils. A poster informing about the risks of contracting EVD through body fluids also adorned the school’s information board.
The school’s head mistress, Mrs. Olanrewaju Anugwo, said the school has been attending sensitisation seminars with officials of the State Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health on how to protect their pupils and teachers from the deadly virus.
“Our teachers have been sensitised and so they are not afraid of resuming school. Some of the parents have been coming around during the holiday too to make enquiries and they have been seeing that things are being put in place to protect them and their children,” she said.
At Petraville Private Schools, Papa Ajao, Mushin, similar measures were being put in place.
The principal, Dr. Peter Kudaisi, said that teachers taking care of toddlers would start using gloves in addition to other preventive measures.
“It is now criminal for teachers not to use gloves. On the first day of resumption, there will be training for all staff and students on regular hand washing and the use of sanitisers,” he said.
“All students, staff and visitors will also have their body temperature checked when entering the school.”
Kudaisi added that the school was also planning to fumigate its premises and improve its sick bay before Monday, when the students are expected to resume.
He said, “We want to fumigate the school before we resume on Monday and our cleaners are cleaning everywhere. We will make sure that our school and our environment are tidy. By the first week of resumption, parents’ fears would have been allayed.
“We are also going to ask parents to get pocket-size hand sanitisers for their children. Our plan is not only to do all this because of Ebola, but to maintain the culture beyond the risk of Ebola. So even after this issue of Ebola, we will sustain everything we are doing now.”
At Temple Preparatory School and Secondary School, and Agbayewa Memorial Schools, both in Ilupeju, Lagos, efforts were being put in place to protect their pupils and douse parents’ fears ahead of the resumption date.
But in spite of some of the efforts being made by the private schools, some schools have postponed their resumption date indefinitely.
For instance, Faith Academy Secondary School, Otta, Ogun State is one of such schools that have postponed their resumption date.
Even though, Temple Preparatory School plans to resume academic activities on Monday, a parent who spoke to our correspondent at the school, Mrs. Oladele, said she was still considering whether to let her child attend school until Nigeria is confirmed to be totally free of the virus.
“I have not decided whether to allow my child resume on Monday yet. Although, I felt better when I saw that the school had infrared thermometer and hand sanitisers, I’m still sceptical. Maybe I will feel completely safe when the virus is no more in the country,” she said.
Meanwhile, the face-off between the Federal Government and the Nigerian Union of Teachers over the resumption date means that public school teachers may shun government’s directive. The Federal Government had insisted that all primary and secondary schools in the country should resume on Monday but the National President of NUT, Comrade Michael Olukoya, has issued a counter directive to teachers.
He has told the teachers to only resume if the Federal Government sufficiently trains and provides them with necessary preventive and protective gadgets on EVD.
At Agidingbi Grammar School, a public school in Ikeja, Lagos, a teacher who spoke with our correspondent on the condition of anonymity because she was not authorised to speak to journalists, said many public school teachers fear for their safety should the schools resume on Monday. She attributed their fears to lack of measures in public schools to protect the staff and students.
“Apart from the seminars that are being organised by the state Ministry of Education for tutor-generals, principals and teachers, there is nothing else going on in the public schools.
“I only came to school to see what is happening and I can see that nothing is happening. Maybe it’s because the government is not installing sanitisers and others like the private schools are doing,” she said.
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