Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos
State on Sunday directed public primary
and secondary schools in the state to start
academic activities on October 8.
The schools were scheduled to open on
September 22.
Mr. Fashola made the announcement at
an interactive session with principals, vice
principals, head teachers and teachers in
public primary and secondary schools in
Lagos.
He directed principals, vice principals, and
teachers to reopen schools on September
22 for the distribution and supply of
preventive materials against the Ebola
Virus Disease in all schools ahead of the
new resumption date.
He said that the new date was to allow
smooth distribution of all necessary
materials to the schools.
"We will use from tomorrow (September
22) as getting ready week.
"My proposal is that tomorrow, the
principals, the teachers and the district
heads get to the schools and sort out what
else is missing.
"We will use from tomorrow through the
week, to get the schools ready. This week
is getting ready week.
"Academic work I propose, instead of
starting and stopping, should start
immediately after the Sallah festival, on
October 8," he said.
The governor said he was also scared of
the disease just as the teachers were but
was determined to overcome it.
He said medical personnel have declared
the state safe of Ebola and, therefore, the
schools were safe to commence normal
academic activities.
"I am not afraid or ashamed to tell you
that I was scared of the Ebola disease. I
am not ashamed to say it but being afraid
does not solve the problem.
"I have a job to do. If the fear overcomes
me then I should leave the job, so I do not
allow the fear to overcome me.
"The doctors have told us that the schools
are safe to reopen, so let us go back to our
schools and observe all the preventive
measures.
"We have awarded contracts to provide
water in about 800 schools, over 200 have
been completed,
"Whether there is Ebola or not we must
provide water for the schools and make
our schools safe for our children," the
governor said.
Mr. Fashola urged the schools to increase
hand washing and personal hygiene
exercise among the pupils and students to
prevent the disease.
The Lagos State Chairman of the National
Union of Teachers, Segun Raheem,
commended the state government for
postponing the resumption date.
Mr. Raheem told journalists, after the
programme, that the governor's decision
was to ensure that the schools were ready
to receive the students.
Earlier, he urged the state government to
provide all necessary preventive
equipment before the schools reopen.
He said that most schools in the state did
not have potable water supply, while other
preventive materials have not been
provided ahead of the September 22
resumption date.
The Special Adviser to the State Governor
on Public Health, Yewande Adeshina, said
that thermoscans, a scientific instrument
used to measure body temperature, have
been distributed to 1688 primary and
secondary schools.
Ms. Adesina said that 1007 Ebola Focal
Officers in public primary schools and 668
Ebola Focal Officers in public secondary
schools had been sensitised on the
management of the disease.
She explained that the officers would be
responsible for surveillance and
monitoring of the disease in each school
and interface between schools and
Primary Healthcare Centres in the area if
there be need.
She assured the principals and teachers
that it was safe to reopen the schools.
---------------------------------------------------------
Let's promote your Songs, Videos, Events & Business.
We have HIGH visit traffic & Publicity Strategies.
Blackberry Pin: 27E1644F
Call: +2348027631814, +2348178070373
.
0 Comments: