Due to the recent development and drastic approach to contain Ebola Virus Disease (EVD). It was stated that there is no single case of Ebola in the Country. This has led the Federal Government to declare September 22 as the new resumption date for all school (Primary and Secondary Schools)
The reverse is the case on the part of Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) and Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT).
On that ground, NUT dares FG, taking the battle to the camp of Federal Government and vows not to resume duty on that 22nd of September.
Read the detail....
The Federal Government came under fire on Tuesday when the Nigerian Union of Teachers directed its members to boycott classrooms on September 22.
The directive follows Federal Government’s order for primary and secondary schools in the country to reopen next Monday.
NUT said teachers will resume work on the September 22 if federal and state governments provide all necessary preventive equipment in schools.
The President of the NUT, Michael Olukoya, gave the directive in Abuja, at a briefing with journalists after the body’s National Executive Council meeting.
Olukoya directed that except state governments in the country provide training for teachers on handling of Ebola, make available infrared thermometer for the schools, including other facilities such as tap water and hand sanitizer, among others, teachers should not resume.
He, however, said the NUT was not against the date given by the federal government for schools’ resumption, but that its members should not report in any of the schools except the conditions are met.
He said, “The NUT is strongly of the opinion that it is better to delay the resumption of schools till October 13 even when the scourge would have been off months ago than to rush and open schools only to be faced with attacks of Ebola in the schools. It makes more sense to be doubly sure than to operate on shaky grounds of uncertainty and probability, as it will be a catastrophe of unimaginable dimension, if by any act of omission, we rush and open schools and end up with even one primary or secondary schools being infected by the virus.
“But, where the government insists on the September 22 date in spite of the wise counsel, the union will rather direct teachers to resume schools whenever they are sufficiently trained and their schools have been provided with the necessary preventive and protective gadgets.
For the avoidance of doubt, the teachers have this day resolved to resume classes in obedience to the federal government’s directive in states where teachers have been trained to handle any outbreak and all the required preventive and protective gadgets such as hand gloves, sanitizers, infra-red thermometers, running water and soaps have been provided as directed by the Federal Government of Nigeria” as reported by The Nation.
The question is this; is it safe enough for Schools to resume at this time putting the vulnerability of these children into consideration?
Be prepared!!! @folabright
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