Why Schools Should Resume on Sept 22 – President Jonathan

Following protests and criticism from several individuals, organizations and teachers over the scheduled resumption for schools across the country in the face of Ebola Virus Disease outbreak in the country, President Goodluck Jonathan has given a useful explanation on the matter.

Speaking on Thursday in Abuja, at the meeting of the National Executive Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party, the President said the Federal Government directed schools to resume on Monday, September 22, in order to avoid discrimination against Nigeria within the international community, Punch reports.

He further explained that the decision for schools to resume was also to show to the world that the country has successfully contained the disease.

President Jonathan also stated that the position of Nigeria within the international community was what made the world to be quickly aware of EVD outbreak in the continent.

Jonathan, who said he was, elated that at the moment there was no one suffering from the virus, confirmed that out of the 19 people that got infected with the virus, seven died while others survived.

The President, however, credited the successful containment of the deadly virus to the commitment of Nigerians and the government in fighting the endemic.

There is nobody with Ebola again in Nigeria, even though there are those we are watching. There are chances that other people could bring the disease to the country as long as we are on the West Coast, but we shall handle it,” Jonathan said.

Meanwhile, although the federal government has insisted on resuming schools activities on September 22, 2014, the Rivers State government has shared an opposite decision on the grounds that the health status of those under surveillance be ascertained first before schools in the state can resume. The deadly disease was imported to Nigeria by the late American-Liberian Patrick Sawyer.