Encomium
While some parents are apprehensive over the Wednesday, October 8 resumption of schools, with the fear of the spread of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), others insist their children should return to school. ENCOMIUM Weekly spoke with parents on this issue.
‘EBOLA HAS BEEN CONTAINED’ – Mrs. Bridget Ihesiaba
There is no more cause for alarm because the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) has been contained. However, I’m in support of the extension of resumption date. It will help schools to evolve measures to prevent further spread of EVD.
‘EXTENSION OF RESUMPTION DATE NOT NECESSARY’ – Mrs. Florence Nwankwo
I don’t think it’s still necessary, especially now the virus has been effectively managed. Schools should resume immediately so that academic activities won’t suffer unduly.
‘…BUT WE STILL NEED TO BE VERY CAREFUL’ – Alhaji Yekini Adisa
I think it’s a wise decision to extend the resumption by two weeks again. It will enable all schools, either public or private, to be fully prepared against the spread of Ebola Virus Disease. I believe before the date expires, they should have put in place all the required preventive measures.
By God’s grace, Ebola Virus Disease won’t be our portion again in Nigeria. I believe we have conquered the disease already but we still need to be very careful.
‘THERE IS NOTHING WRONG IN THE NEW RESUMPTION DATE’ – Mrs. Alice
There is nothing wrong in the new resumption date announced by the government. It’s good to prevent the spread of Ebola Virus Disease so far we’re yet to discover any effective drug or vaccine for the dreaded disease.
But I think the government should also put in place adequate support for all the schools to ensure that all the required facilities are supplied before resumption.
Parents should as well comply with anything required of them to ensure we all fight Ebola Virus Disease.
‘GOVERNMENT SHOULD PROVIDE NECESSARY KIT FOR ALL SCHOOLS’ – Mrs. Kemi Samuel
I really appreciate the fact that it has been shifted. Though the Government has tried in containing Ebola virus, they also need to provide necessary kit for all schools in Lagos state.
‘PARENTS SHOULD ALSO BE MORE CAREFUL AND IMPROVE THEIR SANITATION’ – Mrs. Adeleye Bukola
The vacation is becoming too long. There is no more Ebola scare in Lagos state. Schools should, however, improve their sanitation exercise, parents should also be more careful and improve their sanitation.
‘I HOPE THE CHILDREN WILL BE SAFE WHEN THEY RESUME’ – Mr. Akiola Olaposi
The safety of the children should be paramount before any other consideration. Whether we like it or not, their safety comes first, and Ebola is not something we play with. I hope the children will be safe when they resume.
There was a teacher I asked in one of the schools about the preventive measures they have put in place against Ebola but her response was not too satisfactory. She said nothing has been provided by the government, not even water, not to talk of screening devices. We should not take a chance with our children’s health.
‘WE SHOULD NOT BE PLAYING POLITICS OR A POWER TUSSLE OVER SUCH SENSITIVE ISSUE’ – Bunmi Oladapo
Ebola is of great concern and that schools should only reopen after everything that will help its containment are in place. We should not be playing politics or a power tussle over such sensitive issue. With kids, the consequence of a spread is more likely.
The teachers aren’t equipped to handle this. As a nation, we need to stamp out Ebola completely before we can let our kids back in school which shouldn’t take forever either. To me, there is no basis for an early resumption. Government should close schools indefinitely until the virus is completely evacuated from Nigeria.
‘I THINK OUR KIDS SHOULD RETURN TO SCHOOL’ – Mrs. Nike Akande
I heard in the news that there is no more Ebola in Nigeria and no Ebola case has been recorded of late, so I think our children should return to school as education is important. Left to me, I think our kids should return to school.
‘THE AWARENESS IS ALL OVER AND ALL PREVENTIVE MEASURES ARE TAKEN’ – Mr. Benjamin Joshua
I think our children should go back to school. The awareness is all over and all preventive measures are taken. Every citizen of the country is aware of the deadly disease and I think parents now put hand sanitizers in their kids bag and schools too are taking preventive measures. Before going into the school, temperature are taken and sanitizers are used. So, left to me, our kids should go back to school.
