Ebola Update : Nigerian government extends school resumption date to contain Ebola spread

 The federal government yesterday suspended the resumption of both public and private primary and secondary schools in the country till October 13, 2014.

Minister of education Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau stated this when he briefed journalists after meeting with states’ commissioners of education to discuss the risk posed by the dreaded Ebola virus disease in the education sector.


The minister said the change in the resumption date would ensure adequate preventive measures are put in place before the students report back to school.

The minister said: “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 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.”