Low turn out, irregular EVD measures trail schools’ resumption

LOW turnout of students and irregularities in measures put in place to contain the spread of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) was the hallmark of resumption of private and public primary and secondary schools in Ibadan, on Wednesday.
According to information gathered by the Nigerian Tribune, more private schools adhered to the state’s directive of providing infrared thermometers, wash hand basins and liquid soaps for the use of their students.

A visit to King’s Heritage Nursery and Primary School, Samonda, Ibadan revealed that the school is ready for academic activities while in adherence to the state’s directives. Hand washing gadgets and infrared thermometer were provided for the use of all.
At Pathfinder College, Samonda, Ibadan, students’ were screened for Ebola virus before they were allowed to enter their classes.

Nigerian Tribune gathered that no public primary school in Egbeda Local Government Area of Oyo State has started making use of the hand washing gadgets or the infrared thermometer.
Information gathered at the Ibadan District Council (IDC) Schools 1, 2 & 3, Olubadan, Gbagi, Ibadan revealed that the plastic water dispensers purchased by the heads of schools for use in their various schools would be shared tomorrow and then put in use.
Also, it is not certain when the public schools will get their supply of infrared thermometers from the government.

Aside possessing infrared thermometers and hand washing gadgets, Deril Academy at Gbagi area of Ibadan also provided liquid soaps and the wash hand basins at the entrance of each toilet.
Speaking, Head teacher, Vining Day Nursery and Primary School, Molete, Mrs Wemimo Daomi, expressed uncertainty at the continued provision and usage of these materials noting high cost.
She said: “this small container of sanitizer costs N5,000 and one litre costs N9,000. The automatic water dispenser costs N7,500. The cost of continued purchase of these things is high for school management, particularly a mission school like ours.”
“Well, thank God, we have been told at the NAPPS workshop that the use of water and soap is the best. We have a well in the compound, that makes it cheaper for us,” Daomi added.
However, the situation in Emerald Laurel Comprehensive College, Felele, was different as students were seen being checked with the infrared thermometer on entering the school and mandated to use the sanitiser.
According to the school principal, Mrs Moji Kolade, a sum of N12,000 was paid to the National Association of Proprietors of Private School (NAPPS), Oyo State at a seminar on “Adoptive Measures Against Ebola Virus” where after they received gloves, a container of sanitiser, nose masks, infrared thermometer, Automatic Soap dispenser, a branded bucket which was being put to use.
Though classes had commenced in the school, she lamented that the turnout was fairly impressive.
At Ibadan Grammar School, Molete, placards were pasted at strategic points in the school. Some inscriptions read, “If you sweat, always use your own towel”, “Avoid eating fruits that bat or monkey has partly eaten”, “Do not use somebody else cutleries or cup”, and “Always wash your hands with soap”.

While Principal, Ibadan Grammar School, Mr Femi Adekunle, lamented that only about 20% had resumed, he noted that the bowls of treated water, hand sanitizer and infrared thermometer available in the school were made available by some parents.
Meanwhile, Principal, St Luke’s College, Mr Dekola Kolade, and Principal, Bashorun Ogunmola High School, Ring Road, Mrs Kode Adebisi, stated that the teachers had been sensitised on the need to devote some minutes before teaching to briefly speak to the students on don’ts of EVD as a form of preventive measure.
The turnout of students in Community Secondary School, Kudeti, Olubi Memorial Grammar School, Molete was also low.
Vice Principal, Community Secondary School, Kudeti, Mr Ibukun Olasogba who regarded the turnout of students as fair and expressed hope that the turnout of students will improve by the day.

We have shown the world our capabilities —Chukwu
By Naza Okoli - Lagos
THE Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, has attributed the effective handling of the threat of Ebola in Nigeria to what he described as the physical and systemic components of the country’s infrastructure.
The minister, who was represented by the Chief Medical Director, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Professor Akin Osibogun, was the keynote speaker at the opening ceremony of the 9th Annual Research Conference and Fair of the University of Lagos, held on Wednesday with the theme ‘Health, infrastructure and development’.
He said: “our recent demonstration of ability to rapidly contain the Ebola Virus Disease shows the infrastructure – both ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ – that is available in our country. We have shown the world our capabilities when we united against a common foe such as Ebola.”
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Professor Rahamon Bello, who declared the fair open, noted that research is the hallmark of scholarship, since universities are judged both by the strength of their teaching staff and their commitment to research.
He said: “in pursuit of excellence in research, and in order to take the research efforts and all its components to the desired level, the University of Lagos has recently set up a Research and Innovation Unit to intensify research activities, coordinate multi-disciplinary research projects, and facilitate access to research grants, from international and local sources.”
A special guest at the occasion and member, House of Representatives, Honourable Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said development cannot be possible without research.
“It starts with getting the knowledge. So, I’m glad that UNILAG is doing this, and this time it’s on health, infrastructure and development. Research is very important but we are not paying much attention to it. So, this is a very critical event that UNILAG is holding here today; it’s a strong basis, it’s the foundation, it’s important to have that knowledge, because it is that knowledge that will now translate to concrete development. Also, we are not putting enough money to research; we are not placing enough emphasis on that,” she said.

Osun public school teachers shun resumption
Public school teachers in Osun State, on Wednesday, shunned resumption for 2014/2015 academic session in all the elementary, middle and high schools, citing failure of the state government to provide anti-Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) kits as reason for their action.
Investigation conducted by the Nigerian Tribune indicated that majority of the public school pupils were seen playing, while others chose to leave the premises of their schools for their houses when teachers failed to show up for work.
Some of the public schools in Osogbo, the state capital, including Salvation Army Middle School, located around Alekuwodo were deserted as the teaching staff shunned duties.
But, the situation was different in private schools as their teachers were seen reporting for duties.
Some parents who spoke to our correspondent under condition of anonymity urged the state government to speed up the distribution of infrared thermometer and other anti-EVD kits in public schools so that teachers can commence work.
Reacting over the development, the state chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Comrade Saka Adesiyan, confirmed the refusal of teachers in public schools to resume for work, stressing that “they are following the order of NUT over failure of government to provide anti-Ebola kits in schools.”

According to him, “we have told the government that we are not going to resume today. What we expect government to do have not been done. We asked government to distribute all necessary items needed to pre-empt any possible outbreak of EVD in public schools.”
While disclosing that teachers would resume duties next week Monday, Adesiyan held that “they have started distributing anti-EVD kits and we believe that before Monday, they would have succeeded in distributing these kits. The safety of the pupils and teachers are very paramount and we cannot afford to toy with it.”

Rivers govt provides hand sanitisers, infrared thermometers
THE Ministry of Health in Rivers on Wednesday provided hand sanitisers and infra ray thermometer to schools as they resume from their long vacation.
Mrs Helen Okwu, the Head Mistress of St. Andrew State School, Port Harcourt made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt.
Okwu said that the ministry of health gave schools the materials to help in preventing the spread of Ebola virus in the state.
“The state ministry of health instructed us not to allow any child in school until we receive materials for the prevention of the spread of the disease.
“I went to ministry of health where headmistress and principals were called to collect the materials and we have resumed today because we have been given the materials.
“We have informed our teachers and students on measures to take during school hours,” she said.
Mrs Rose Osadebe, the Principal of Girls Government Secondary School, Orominike said the school was yet to receive the materials from the ministry of health.
“We have not received any material for the check and prevention of Ebola; we believe that the state ministry of health will get to our school for the materials.
“There are many schools to reach in the state. From now till Friday, we believe we will get the materials, but we have informed our students on what to do while at school and at home for the prevention,” Osadebe said.
Miss Ihunwo Blessing, a student at the school said she was happy to resume school and called on state government to come to their aid and build toilets for better sanitation.
NAN reported that private schools also reopened for classes on October 8.
At the Nobles Group of Schools, pupils and students were made to wash their hands before entering their classrooms.
Mr Bright Orluwosu, the proprietor of the school, said that hand sanitisers and water were kept at the school entrance for students, teachers and parents.
“We have provided water, soap and hand sanitisers at the entrance of the primary school section and that of the secondary school.
“As students and pupils come to school, they wash their hands and apply hand sanitisers to ensure that the Ebola Virus Disease is prevented.
“We also have some nurses on standby to attend to any student with high temperature and advise on measures to be taken,” he said.

Ogun schools resume
PUBLIC and private schools in Ogun State resumed for the 2014/2015 academic session on Wednesday after two months break.
The schools, had earlier been scheduled to resume on September 15, but had their holidays extended due to the outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the country by the Federal Government till September 22.
However, some states like Osun, Oyo, Ekiti, Ogun and Lagos states had to postpone schools resumption till October 8 (yesterday), to enable them provide all the preventive kits needed to fight against the disease.
Nigerian Tribune visited some public and private schools within and outside Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, to monitor the level of compliance by the schools.
In some of the public schools visited, there was low turnout of pupils and students.
As at 8.35am, enrolment of pupils at UBE Model Nursery and Primary School, Oloronmbo, Abeokuta, was very low while teachers and some health workers were on ground.
In other schools visited by the Nigerian Tribune such as Christ The Redeemers College, Sagamu, Ijeun-Titun High School, Abeokuta, Mercyland International School, Ibara, Abeokuta, students and pupils were subjected to screening with infrared thermometer and hand sanitisers.
The state chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Comrade Dare Ilekoya, said he was satisfied with the distribution of preventive kits by the state government to the schools.
Ilekoya said: “I have moved round the streets of Abeokuta. I discovered that schools have resumed fully today, having being certified with the distribution of preventive measures. We went round with the Commissioner for Education, Segun Odubela. We actually saw how the materials were being distributed and with the distribution, we can say with all sincerity that any form of detection can be easily made while these children resume.

“Government has been able to provide infrared thermometers, which is one of the most vital gadgets to detect the deadly disease. School heads have been mandated to provide washing hands basins, the sanitiser has already been provided. We are partnering with the government to coordinate the preventive measures being put in place.”
Speaking with journalists, Odubela attested to the fact that there was low turnout in most of the schools monitored by his team.
He added that there would be slight adjustment in the school hours from the normal 2.00p.m closing time to 3.00p.m, to enable teachers cover the syllabi.
Odubela also said that the first term examination in all government schools would hold in the first week of January 2015, noting that efforts had been made to ensure that the periods missed by the pupils were recovered.

Low turnout of students in Lagos
LOW turnout of students was observed in some schools in Lagos as full academic activities kickoff as directed by the government.
Nigerian Tribune which monitored some of the schools in parts of Lagos observed that contrary to what Lagos is known for, the Wednesday resumption witnessed low turnout of students.
First day of resumption in Lagos is generally known for an increase in traffic activities in different parts of Lagos, as highways, bus termini, car parks and bus stops often become congested with hundreds of young students clad in diverse uniforms. But same cannot be said of Wednesday resumption, as there was very little difference in traffic activities when compared with previous weeks, as observed by the Nigerian Tribune.
At the Government College, Ikorodu, low student turnout was recorded, as members of staff had little difficulty coping with the handful of students on ground. The same situation played itself out at the Ikosi Grammer School, Ketu, as students were seen trudging into the school premises.
When chatting with the Nigerian Tribune, one of the teachers in the school indicated that the development could be easily attributed to the Sallah break, saying many students who must have travelled for that purpose were just returning.

When asked if he thought the development had any connection with the recent Ebola fear in the state, the teacher said: “I don’t think so. We have been told that Ebola has been kicked out of the country, so there is no reason anyone should stay out of school because of this. I’m sure it is as a result of the festival season, which encouraged a lot of people to travel.”
Source: Tribune