Encomium
The federal government’s recent directive cancelling summer schools and extending school resumption by a month has been applauded by Nigerians, despite serious concerns being raised by some stakeholders. Commenting on the school resumption extension, almost all our respondents agreed that students staying off schools to check the spread of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) was in the best interest of parents and the nation at large.
It would be recalled that secondary and primary schools scheduled to resume on Monday, September 15, 2014, would now commence a new academic session on Monday, September 22, 2014, so that the deadly EVD won’t affect students.
‘Such move is a good idea to curtail the spread of the dreaded virus’
– YUSUF JIMOH
Such move is a good idea to curtail the spread of the dreaded virus. It also creates more platform and time for parents to get educated and simulate different preventive strategies. Personally, I have been bringing the awareness on Ebola prevention to the people in my community. It’s working pretty fine.
‘I support the extension of school resumption’
– MRS. WURAOLA ADEOBA
I support the extension of school resumption, even till the end of the year. This is necessary so that the governments at various levels can take the issue very serious. And even before the resumption at all, all public and private schools should be mandated to employ health officers that will be screening both the students and the staffers.
Also, the use of hand sanitizers and other form of disinfectant should be introduced by all schools, and failure to comply, such schools should be closed down. For now, I think Ebola virus is mysterious and nobody knows enough about it. So we need to be very careful.
‘Federal government’s decision is very correct’
– IJEOMA OPARA
Federal government’s decision is very correct. I wouldn’t let my wards go to school till I am very sure the virus has been well contained. Children are so vulnerable, and so it will be disaster if it gets to them.
I heard the Minister for Health saying schools should resume on September 22, I disagree with it. If he is facing pressure from private school owners, that shows our insensitivity in attitude and action. Money is not everything. God help us in this country.
‘Schools should remain closed’
– MRS. CHIAMAKA NATHANIEL WILSON
The new school resumption date is not okay. For me, the threat of Ebola is very much real. Take Port Harcourt, for example. How would any reasonable parent send his/her ward to schools in the area with over 400 Ebola suspects? The Federal Government should keep schools shut for now.
“There should be Ebola screening equipment in schools’
– CHIOMA TOPLIS
Schools should only resume after all primary and secondary schools have been provided with Ebola screening equipment. We also need to keep in place trained medical personnel, should there be any incident. Schools equally have to be provided with hand sanitizers. When all these are done, then schools can resume.
‘Postponing resumption date is good’
– OMOWONUOLA ATUPA
I think it’s a good idea, considering the fact that it’s easy for kids to contract any kind of disease. So postponing resumption date is good until they are able to put things under control.
We keep them properly clean at all times, educate them about washing their hands properly after doing anything at all, be it urinating, excreting, playing or eating.
‘It is a good decision made by the FG’
– FOLUSHO AKANDE
It is a good decision made by the federal government considering the fact that kids are more prone to diseases. So, it is a good decision our kids should remain at home pending the time the federal government resolves the issue. Washing of hands frequently and the use of sanitizers.
‘And persons who are infected cannot even mingle…’
– BIOLA ADEBAJO
In my opinion, the federal government has actually succeeded in putting so much undue fears in the heart of many Nigerians than necessary. One of the most disregarded facts about this whole issue is that, the deadly infectious disease can travel easily from person to person only in the later stages. And persons who are infected cannot even mingle as such out there, since even at the early stages (when although they can’t even infect anyone), they tend to have certain symptoms which will restrict them from being exposed to people out there.
Meanwhile, people who are most at risk are those in close physical contact with an infected person, like family members and the health care workers taking care of the patients, so such people should be very much careful to take all necessary precautions, and leave other people who are not in any way exposed to this disease to live their normal lives, including the school students. I’m not saying everyone should not be careful too, but a lot of the so called “preventive measures” introduced by the government are rather unnecessarily funny and dramatic rubbish (I’m sorry to say).
As we all know, the early symptoms of this disease include fever, headache, body aches, cough, stomach pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. So because these could be symptoms of other diseases, it’s difficult to ascertain Ebola early on, and so because one can’t be too sure, trust me, when there’s anyone around having such suspicious symptoms, I raise necessary alarms. And of course, if they say we should always wash our hands, God help us too.
‘October is okay for me’
– Mrs. ESTHER TOYE
I think they should have left the resumption date to what it was before, that is October. It will give the health sector an opportunity to stabilize.
The preventive measures of washing hands regularly. Avoid unnecessary contact with suspected persons.
‘I would have suggested the school should close till the end of the year’
– MRS. BIDEMI OYEFESO
Almost everybody is against the school resumption date because the issues of Ebola is not an issue of risk taking but that of protection of young citizens. Left to me, I would have suggested the school should close till the end of the year. That time, the solution to the deadly disease would have been sorted out.
So, on my own part to ensure my wards are safe, I will make sure I obey all the rules and regulation guiding the Ebola and to avoid it.
‘We pray against it”
– MRS. REMI OLAPOSI
They should just leave the resumption date till October, we pray against any outbreak of Ebola among our children because it would be disastrous. Even the doctor that we would run to when it happens as suggested that we should hold on till October. So federal government should just listen to the voice of wisdom.
‘It is a very good idea’
– MRS. TOMIWA BALOGUN
It is a very good idea because we parents have to be careful about the welfare of our children. I educate them in washing their hands regularly and I bought them hand sanitizers.
‘If anything happens to them now…’
– MRS. ADEOLA FAROMIKA
I embrace the federal government’s opinion because health is wealth. Our children are the ones who will supersede us and they are also the leaders of tomorrow. So, if anything happens to them now, we are jeopardizing not only ourselves but the country at large.
I have bought them hand sanitizers and have also enlightened them about this deadly virus.
‘Coming up with that decision is not a bad thing at all’
– BABAJIDE ALLI
Coming up with that decision is not a bad thing at all. I believe the best is to wait till the problem is permanently addressed. However, any time schools reopen, each school should have Ebola virus screening centre at its gate.
Both the students and staffers should be screened before allowing them back in the school. As a parent, I make sure we all use hand sanitizer regularly. But by God’s grace, Ebola virus disease won’t be my family’s portion.
‘I think it is for the safety of the children’
– MRS RASHIDAT ATUNWA
I think it is for the safety of the children, but now that they have reviewed the resumption order it is a welcome development. I would rather have my children at home till December and keep them safe than expose them to Ebola.
I teach them how to maintain a healthy culture, I make sure the children are clean and neat all the time.
‘I am not in support of closing schools…’
– MRS BUNMI OLUMUYIWA
I am not in support of closing schools because everyday people gather in churches, mosques, offices, seminars, conferences. Thank God they have adjusted the resumption date at least the children will not just be playing at home.
I have educated them on the virus and they know what it is all about. They should just be cautious of who they play with.
