Concerned about their children’s health, many parents in Lagos State kept their wards home on Wednesday as primary and secondary schools resumed after the mid-term and Sallah break. Their fears are tied to the ongoing cholera outbreak in the state and other parts of the country.
Concerned about their children’s health, many parents in Lagos State kept their wards home on Wednesday as primary and secondary schools resumed after the mid-term and Sallah break. Their fears are tied to the ongoing cholera outbreak in the state and other parts of the country.
Investigations across Lagos, including areas like Lagos Island, Ajah, and Alimosho, revealed that some parents are uneasy about the health conditions in their communities and decided to keep their children home.
Despite assurances from the Lagos State government and the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), some parents remained cautious.
Esther, a mother living on Lagos Island, said she would prefer her children resume classes next week after monitoring the situation.
“My daughter, who attends a secondary school on the Island, won’t resume until next week. The hygiene conditions and lack of potable water here are concerning, and it is a densely populated area,” she said.
Abike, another concerned mother from Agbado, echoed similar sentiments, noting that there was no rush to send her children back to school with the cholera outbreak not fully contained.
“Most schools don’t have clean water, and I can’t trust the cleanliness of food vendors, even though they are screened,” she added.
Observations at Nurudeen Adewale Primary School and Agbado Junior High School indicated lower-than-expected attendance.
Meanwhile, Faaji FM, a local radio station, advised parents to follow health guidelines from the state government and prepare food and water for their children to avoid buying from potentially unsafe sources.
Lagos State’s Commissioner for Basic Education, Hon. Jamiu Alli-Balogun, reassured parents that the resumption went smoothly and that health measures are in place.
“We have met with the Ministry of Health officials, and there is no cause for alarm. The state government is prepared to handle any health issues that arise. Our schools are safe for teaching and learning,” he stated.
NUT Chairman Comrade Hassan Akintoye also expressed confidence in the government’s proactive measures to curb cholera and ensure safe school environments.
“The state government has always been up to the task in situations like these. The attendance today was satisfactory, considering some students’ natural reluctance to resume after a break,” he said.
Following the cholera outbreak, UNICEF issued a statement urging the government to prevent the disease from spreading to schools, emphasizing the overcrowded conditions and lack of potable water in many public schools.
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