EBOLA: NUT Refuses September 22 Resumption Date for Schools

NUT President, Dr. Michael Alogba Olukoya

The National Union of Teachers (NUT) has again kicked against the September 22, 2014, resumption  date for primary and secondary schools in the country, arguing  that  the government is yet to put the necessary equipment in schools to prevent the spread of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

As a result, the body has directed all its members nationwide to stay away from schools until conviction "beyond reasonable doubt" that the government has provided all preventive and protective gadgets such as infra-red thermometers, sanitizers, running water, gloves and teachers adequately trained.
He said this while addressing newsmen at a press briefing in Abuja today.

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.”