For summer classes too, Ebola fear is real

The scare of Ebola virus is gradually frustrating school summer activities, FOLASHADE ADEBAYO reports

Drop the word in a market place and it is sure to cause a stampede, instantly mimicking the effect of a nuclear bomb. Since its outbreak in Lagos last month, the Ebola virus disease has reshaped social etiquette, and the conduct of religious activities and safety procedures everywhere in the country.

There is also no exemption of the nation’s schools from the scare, as findings by our correspondent on the impact of the EVD outbreak on summer classes have shown. While a school in Ogun State has hurriedly concluded its summer classes on Friday (today), some others have recorded a marked drop in attendance.

Like in many other sectors, the operational summer schools are beginning to observe new guidelines and precautionary measures to check the incursion of the virus in their institutions.

For a non-governmental organisation, the Truth House Foundation, which runs an annual free summer school programme for indigent pupils in the Ojodu-Abiodun area of Ogun State, it has to end the programme hurriedly in line with a directive from President Goodluck Jonathan.

According to the THF President, Mr. Oluseyi Oluwaseye, the summer school programme, in its fourth year, is being put to an end to help stop the spread of the virus.

Oluwaseye said, “Following information from the office of the President on the need to curb the spread of the Ebola Viral Disease, especially among the school children and students, we have decided to end the 2014 summer school programme on Friday, August 15. This is against the normal closing day, which is Friday, August 29, 2014.’’

While the programme lasted, however, Oluwaseye noted that the outbreak did not mar attendance, as he had to turn down pupils because of limited spaces.

“Brief information was passed across to the students as regards the disease. Students with open cuts and bruises were sent home for treatment. Importance of hand washing before, during and after school was emphasised as well as general cleanliness and personal hygiene. Water and hand wash were provided for students and teachers to wash their hands at every point in time. The students had a very short playtime within which they were only able to buy snacks or feed before the next class resumed. Hence, limited activities took place during their playtime. No room was given for sporting competition or other games that could lead to physical injury,’’ said Oluwaseye.

The situation was, however, not as drastic in many schools and centres visited in Lagos, and Ogun states. In many of the schools, there were conspicuous display of soaps and sanitisers at various points for pupils to use. The authorities of other schools also regulate and observe the sweat-inducing carefree plays that characteristically punctuate break periods in the institutions.

While the head teacher, Masterpiece Schools, Akera, Ogun State, Mr. Babatunde Atambala, said the outbreak had not affected enrolment, he noted that some parents had expressed concern about the virus and the measures the school had in place to protect pupils.

“We have a larger number of participants this year. Last year, it was 90 but this year it is 135, that is about 50 per cent increase. However, parents have called to express concern over the Ebola virus. We ensure that the pupils wash their hands before eating and after using the toilet. We have sanitisers everywhere. We have also given orientation to the pupils not to shake hands or hug people even outside the school. We have also told the pupils and the teachers to wear cover cloths when they are in public places. It is important to avoid body contacts in such places.’’

According to the head teacher, the school now assigns 10 pupils to a teacher during playtime.

He added, “The nursery and primary classes have separate break times. The teachers have instructions to separate pupils who get too close to each other.”

However, the Chief Executive Officer, Betweenthelines Communications Limited, Ogun State, Mr. Fola Adekeye, said the outbreak of the disease had taken its toll on the attendance in some schools in the state. The outfit, which consults for some schools in the state, cited one of the schools, which has recorded poor turnout in attendance this year.

“In one of the schools, the proprietor said parents kept calling until he had to print a handout to educate pupils and teachers. In the school, attendance was 330 last year, but it has dropped to 216 this year. The school also had to manufacture sterilisers from its Chemistry department so that the pupils can use it to wash their hands after visiting the rest room. It is a good thing that the weather is cold at this time. It will minimise how the pupils sweat,’’ he said.

Adekeye also foresaw a situation where pupils might stay at home even after the holiday period. He alluded to a statement from President Jonathan, advising schools to shut their gates beyond the resumption day.

“I think the nation has to be discreet as well as thorough in handling this matter. The President is creating fear. There is so much misinformation going about. I do not see public schools resuming on September 15. About N1.9bn has already been released to tackle the virus. Every state will want a piece of the money. You know election is coming and they will tie any expenditure to it,’’ he added.

On his part, Atambala said keeping pupils at home might not be a realistic approach to the outbreak. As far as he is concerned, no one knows how long the chain of re-infection would last. He advised the federal and state governments to increase its orientation and awareness campaign around the country.

Oluwaseye, however, said it might be unwise to ignore the President’s advice. For him, keeping pupils away from schools after resumption might be a last resort.

“This depends on the extent to which the spread of the disease has gone. But I believe it is a form of precaution being taken considering the vulnerability of children to diseases. It is easier to transmit diseases among children and it is difficult to tell if any child has an infection or not until the symptoms has shown by which time there has been a spread.

“Also, the personal hygiene and sanitary practices in individual homes and schools cannot be ascertained. Hence, the need for such a measure to be taken until it is clear that the disease has been contained and its spread declined.

“Schools can be safe if there is proper awareness concerning the disease, its spread, symptoms, treatment and most importantly preventive measures among teachers, caregivers and students. The need to pass the right information to them cannot be overemphasised, so that they do not live in fear. Personal hygiene should be stressed with a lot of emphasis on importance of hand washing, especially as regards use of sanitary facilities,’’ he said.