Ktwice: Private school owners in Lagos State
and the Federal Government may
clash over the latter’s order directing
all primary and secondary schools in
the country to resume on October 13,
2014, instead of the anticipated
September 15.
The school owners, under the umbrella
of the National Association of
Proprietors of Private Schools, believe
that the directive is unnecessary and
should not be considered as part of the
measures to prevent the spread of
Ebola virus in the country.
They expressed their feeling at a
sensitisation programme on Ebola
held on Thursday at Victory Grammar
School, Ikeja, Lagos.
The Minister of Education, Mallam
Ibrahim Shekarau, had announced the
resumption date after a meeting with
the 36 state commissioners of
education on Tuesday in Abuja
But speaking at the sensitisation
programme, the Lagos State President
of the National Association of
Proprietors of Private Schools, Mr.
Yomi Otubela, said, “We have sent our
appeal to the Federal Government
through the Lagos State Special
Adviser on Public Health informing it
that if religious organisations and
other places are left open, these
children could as well contract the
virus there.
“If markets that have more crowd than
what we have in schools are not
asked to close down, then we wonder
why the government will not allow us
put preventive measures in place and
allow these children return to school.
School is supposed to be a place of
knowledge and we are to educate and
expose them to the knowledge on
what they need to know to prevent the
spread of the virus, not keeping them
out of schools and keeping them
ignorant of what is happening.”
But the Special Adviser to the Lagos
State Government on Public Health,
Dr. Yewande Adeshina, disagreed with
the school owners, asking them to
abide by the Federal Government’s
directive.
She also asked them not to place
priority on their financial wellbeing
over the physical wellbeing of the
school children.
The founder of Supreme Educational
Foundation Schools, Mrs. Adenike
Adamolekun, also said the directive by
the Federal Government was
senseless.
She said, “Just as we are praising the
Federal Government for being
proactive in containing the Ebola virus,
we are also condemning them on this
one. It does not make sense at all.
Even if they had any doubt, what they
needed to have done was to have put
together some precautions and extend
it to all schools, ensuring that all
schools abide by them.
“Shutting the schools for a whole
month, considering the fact they will be
shut down next year again because of
elections, is a bad idea. Moreover[b],
parents do not know what to do with
those kids.[/b]
www.punchng.com/news/ebola-school-owners-fg-on-collision-course/

I just stopped reading when I got to that part! Really so parents don't know what to with their kids anymore? Schools have become dumping grounds

I think its too early to declare closure of schools. BUT if the Ebola outbreak gets more serious than what it is now then they MUST close down whether they like or it not or else they should carry their schools on the head to Cameroon.

I still don't understand why the teachers of private schools will not be paid their salaries for September even if it's in arrears, if they are to resume in October, will that result to paying less than the term's fee for my kids. I'm sure I will still pay the full term's fee. I don't understand what their grouse is. Selfish and Capitalist proprietors

Blackchampion: Yea! If markets n religious gatherings re open; then i see no nid postponing school resumption date.

Can't u reason? The children going to churches and market places. Can b controlled by their guidance bt, if sku wil b open then, their guidiance wunt have any option dan to send the wards to school where they can even play with saliva....

Pure greed. If any of these private school has just one case of Ebola, that will be the end of that school.


Standard private school will pay September salary tho, it might be delay a little bit.

creamylicious: Just as I thot. They must fight this to finish oooooo. Wetin sef!!! They just rendered us jobless for some months. Standard schools knw beta and have taken precautionary measures b4 this stupid extension came up.

I feel your pain,but they are fighting a lost battle.

mathefaro: you mean the children ain't defenseless when they are not in the school, playing around, traveling from one city to another all in the name of holiday? Please you guys should look beyond the revenue part and look at how this move will affect the academic lives of these children who we claim are the future leaders.

U can speak as much turenchi as ur dictionary will allow.... fact still remains dat no school nor its proprietor(ress) can love nor care for my child more Dan me...so he's protection is my main aim

A month to enable a dangerous epidemic be contained shd nt take d skin off any rational thinking persons nose

This regime is thoroughly insensible. If they were serious about this ebola virus, institutions such as universities, religious houses, sports centres, political campaigns, etc would first be considered. Now the scheme of work of these schools would be inadvertently affected.. October is just two months away from december, and schools must atleast close first week of december, cos some parents might start traveling(and their kids must sojourn with them)..a term would be less than two months(waste of money on the side of the parents). If u check it closely there's practically no gain for neither the pupils, parents, teachers and school owners. Do we expect a proprietor to pay teachers who aren't working(meaning teachers would be jobless for a month).Btw.. And these are a category of people(children) who do not move far away from their neighbourhoods.

Our government lack decision making.Federal government are always at fault when takin decision.closing down schools is not the best way.why can't we have state of emergency on ebola,let everybody stay at home till October 13, without going to work.no market,no church,no mosque. Silly and barbaric leaders

These private school owners don't know that just a policy from the govt will delist 98% of the private schools? Most of them lack the requirements of an ideal school. I can't imagine owner of 3 bedroom flat converted to private school challenging the decision of the federal govt. Naija has a long way to go!

tuffgongjo: I feel your pain,but they are fighting a lost battle.

hmmmmmmmm... Then October 13 is it and nothing more. Meanwhile I am job hunting marketing or sales person job on my mind. This body needs no holiday

Ejigbooliv: ....…u r indeed a blackchampion! Myopic sense of reasoning

Ignored. Re.tarded f00l

creamylicious: hmmmmmmmm... Then October 13 is it and nothing more. Meanwhile I am job hunting marketing or sales person job on my mind. This body needs no holiday

I like ur eyes....Nice lips too

this private schools can be very stingy. they make use of teachers to the last drop. yet just because they don't want to pay the teachers for September, they are now coming up with an excuse.

Samgreguc:
Can't u reason? The children going to churches and market places. Can b controlled by their guidance bt, if sku wil b open then, their guidance wunt have any option dan to send the wards to school where they can even play with saliva....

So dis guidance will always carry dem ryt? without contact wit oda children. U think dat is easy? And can't d teachers handle dem as well. Ur Opinion though. #Peace

Parties, market, religions centres, n d rest attract more crowd. If lessons in schools are on going....d extension is not necessary.

Pavore9: My family owns a school in Lagos and l tell you the loss of revenue ain't little! When school finally resumes, parents will be paying half term fees, it is not funny but who dares go against the Federal Government?

PLS STOP LYING, PARENTS PAYS FULL FEES

SuperMartins: I like ur eyes....Nice lips too

SuperMartins: I like ur eyes....Nice lips too

after the forming we love d compliment. Lol

Du dae knw what happen in senegal?we also shld be mindful dat children are playful no mata what nd shld nt compromise lifes,nation,families ,etc 4 profit,dere is GOD.

Hade4larin: Nigerians are just too greedy for my likeness!!!!

And how many Nigerians care if u like to be a Nigerian or not.....the private schools filled a space for our kids that Govt can't...they have equal right like any other industry. If this is the Govt's decision on how best to tackle the issue of wide spread infection,fine. But the schools also need to be compensated for the duration at a certain %.They pay taxes after all and they employ a good number of citizens.

Order cheap forehead temperature scanners, Hand wash and portable anti bacteria spray

08164087680

This is the kind of greed that made the FOOLISH PH- based doctor to treat the diplomat he knew had ebola infection.

We understand the pain that these schools owners would lose revenue but does wisdom not teach that it is better to have school children alive? If any kid infected with ebola gets into classroom, it would be called DOOMS DAY. Nigeria would become Liberia, a country where dogs now feast on the bodies of dead people.

God help us.

stevolinkon40: I cant read dis. Lost my goggles

Bt, u can write this... Thank God sha say ur google get brain run cos, him no wan help u read rubbish.

tng: People keep screaming money, parents would still pay fees in Oct on resumption so where is the revenue loss? Teachers would still be paid because they have a contract with the school.

All in all, it's the children that would still lose because most likely they won't finish their syllabus for the term because of the time or it would be rushed.

Seriously this directive wasn't well thought out before it was issued.

Prevention is better than cure. Look at it from this angle if a student in a particular school is infected that particular school will be closed down for a long tym look at the cost implication of that o. And also if the school is eventually reopend look at the stigma that will be placed on the school. The school owners should not look at the immediate effect but the long term , contries like leberia now do u think they will be able to conduct the nov/ dec waec? Both d specialist clinic and the hotel in PH now that has been closed down! What do expect dem to do. The private school owner should calm down this a good directive from d govt.

Ktwice:
A school proprietress, Dr. Maggie Ibru,
stated that what the Federal
Government could have done was to
provide hand sanitisers in all private
and public schools in the country.
She said it was in the capability of the
Federal Government to provide hand
sanitisers and increase the level of
sanitisation in all schools in the
country.

Jesus christ. The way some people reason really baffles me. How can a whole Dr. think that the best way to control or prevent Ebola in our schools most especially nursery and primary schools is by providing hand sanitisers for our little children?!

Some of these so called private schools, are not even able to control and contain common Cold and catarrh with cough. Some don't even have infirmary. Will they stop children from playing or asking for "chin gum" and "puff puff" roger from each other

With the way people are evading and sneaking out from quarantine centres, schools should be shut down indefinitely till this thing is properly contained.

stevolinkon40: I cant read dis. Lost my goggles

But you could type this. .... lolz

My worry is that we are treating this ebola matter with less attention than required. The private school owners may be right about their stand. Let our government look into the suggestions made by the body, instead of giving us false hopes while the problem escalates.

Now I imagine the days of my ancestors fighting strange diseases, making sacrifices to gods, some surviving. Fear dey oh

A person who thinks rationally will also know that shutting down the school while parents still go to their respective places of work still doesn't make any difference since nobody will be there to guide and caution the children even at home.

Since universities and other tertiary institutions were not shut down, they should have at least left the senior secondary students to continue receiving their lectures normally, I believe they're matured enough to be monitored and cautioned within the school premises.

buchio7:

U can speak as much turenchi as ur dictionary will allow.... fact still remains dat no school nor its proprietor(ress) can love nor care for my child more Dan me...so he's protection is my main aim

A month to enable a dangerous epidemic be contained shd nt take d skin off any rational thinking persons nose

Firefire:


Are you are Teacher or a Proprietress ?

I feel you if any of the above.

Why don't you present a superior argument? Why would campaigns be on? churches are not closed, mosques are open, markets and other high density gatherings are permitted. Are children not found in such gatherings? Even universities are on. What kind of preventive measure is this? Why not give every school protective devices or screening equipment. That will be a better show of love for school children.

I don't know why we are getting these things mixed up. Markets are for adults. One only needs to be extra careful about personal hygiene before touching the kids or other things in the house. Worship houses, for now, should be left for the adults. Coordinators of these centers should put in place preventive measures and educate the worshippers. Children should be left at home! A sincere private school teacher, who knows what is obtainable in these schools will never support that the kids should resume now. The proprietors are only concerned about their money. It is very wrong to say parents don't know what to do for their own children! That is ridiculous. What have we been doing for them these past weeks? What have parents been doing for their children forever? That the FG should provide hand sanitizers for them is another laughable idea. It also shows they can't take care of our children. Who told them that those would destroy the virus? They just don't want to spend a kobo for the training neither do they want to provide wash hand basins for each kid nor provide a adequate water. Can you imagine 30 pupils washing their hands in the same basin after break or one nanny who is probably not happy with her job washing their bomboms without washing her hands regularly and still helping with their feeding? Please we should take up our responsibilities and make our societies healthier. Government can't do it alone. And I am a private school teacher, a mother and I won't be paid!

Eboila doesn't work in october

Why are they complaining? We are still going to pay full fees when they resume. As a working mother, this is not too convenient but thankfully, I run my own things and I can afford to take my children to work but some working mothers can't. However, the longterm good far outweighs the small bad in this extension because we have to realise that children are vulnerable and teachers don't have the old passion for teaching and the love of children like before.

State governments should use this extension to sensitize school owners/managers on how to protect these innocent kids and they should set up health inspectors who will be going round these schools to ensure that every safety rule is strictly observed. As for me, I have bought my children's required textbooks and I will be teaching them accordingly.