The Federal Government has announced October 14, 2014 as the new resumption date for all private and government owned primary and secondary schools in the country.

Minister of Education, Ibrahim Shekarau, who announced the new date, shortly after a meeting with all the 36 states Commissioners of Education in Abuja on Tuesday said the decision was to allow for some preventive measures to be instituted in the school communities before they are re-opened to the public.

Shekarau, who briefed journalists after the meeting, directed all private schools to in the country to suspend all summer programmes with immediate effect.

He said each private and public school would be required to train at least two desk officers in collaboration with ministry of health officials on how to handle any suspected case of Ebola and also embark on immediate sensitization of all Teaching and Non-Teaching Staff in all schools on preventive measures.

“Myself and all State Commissioners of Education met this day 26th August, 2014 to discuss issues related to the reopening of schools for the new academic year (2014/2015) vis-à-vis the Ebola epidemic issue”, he said.

The meeting was also attended by senior officials of the Federal Ministry of Health.

At the end of the meeting, the following decisions were arrived at as preventive measures to ensure the safety and well-being of all students in our schools throughout the Federation.

*All Primary and Secondary schools, both Public and Private are to remain closed until Monday 13th October, 2014 which is the new school resumption date for all schools throughout the Federation.  This is to ensure that adequate preventive measures are put in place before the students report back to school.

*All State Ministries of Education are to immediately organize and ensure that at least two (2) staff in each school, both Public and Private, are trained by appropriate health workers on how to handle any suspected case of Ebola and also embark on immediate sensitization of all Teaching and Non-Teaching Staff in all schools on preventive measures. This training of staff must be concluded not later than 15th September, 2014.

*All State Ministries of Education should establish a Working and Monitoring Team for effective supervision of school activities before and after opening of schools.

*Each State Ministry of Education should appoint a designated Desk Officer not later than 1st September, 2014, who should also receive appropriate training and who must report on daily basis to the Honourable Commissioner on situation in the schools. The names of such Desk Officers, their phone numbers and e-mail addresses should be communicated to the Headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Education not later than 1st September, 2014.

*All Primary and Secondary schools, both Public and Private should be provided with a minimum of two (2) Blood Pressure Measuring Equipment by the State Ministries of Education.

*The State Ministries should determine the number of such equipment required and forward same to the Federal Ministry of Education not later than 1st September, 2014. The Federal Ministry of Education will liaise with the Federal Ministry of Health to ensure that appropriate equipment are procured.
*All the above measures shall also apply in all Federal Government Colleges.

*All Summer Classes currently being conducted by some private schools should be suspended with immediate effect until 13th October, 2014.

*All Private Primary and Secondary Schools must comply with the directives given under these preventive measures.

While calling on State Governments to support their State Ministries of Education with all necessary funds to ensure effective implementation of these preventive measures, the Minister further directed “all tertiary institutions to suspend exchange of staff and students programs, visits and major International seminars and workshops until further notice” adding that “they are also to monitor the movement of foreign students in their campuses.

“They are to liaise with appropriate Government Health Institutions to organize and ensure effective sensitization program for all their teaching and non-teaching staff.

“The Minister of Education and all State Commissioners of Education will meet again on 23th September, 2014 to review the situation in all States”, he said