EBOLA VIRUS: SCHOOLS MIGHT RESUME 0CT13TH

Doubts persisted yesterday over the September 22 resumption of primary and secondary schools nationwide as a result of the Ebola outbreak.

The House of Representatives Committee on Education has slated a meeting with Minister of Education Ibrahim Shekarau for him to convince Nigerians why schools should resume this month after doctors have cautioned against it.

The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) last week said the resumption date should be shifted.

But the government insisted yesterday that the date is in order because Nigeria is virtually Ebola-free.

Minister of Health Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu yesterday said delaying schools, resumption till December or early next year based on Ebola Virus Disease is “irrational fear”.

He spoke to reporters at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja.

According to him, the decision to fix September 22 was based on expert advice.

Insisting that it is safe for schools to reopen, he said there was nobody under treatment anywhere in the country for Ebola virus disease at the moment. He added that there was no community transmission of the disease in Nigeria, like in other countries.

Stressing that Nigeria is making progress against the disease, Chukwu said: “The minister of education, after meeting with the commissioners for education from the 36 states and FCT, decided when public schools should open, which they told us is  September 22. In taking that decision, they used information that was given by the Federal Ministry of Health to the fact there is actually no reason now, with the expert information we have at hand why our schools cannot resume earlier than the original date of Oct. 13.