Adamawa govt postpones school resumption over measles outbreak

The Adamawa State Government has postponed the resumption of schools for the third term.

The schools which formally reopened on Monday were told the same day to close until next Monday, May 13.

The state Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development said in a circular dated 6/5/2024 that the, “The resumption date of third term 2023/2024 academic session earlier scheduled to be 6th May, 2024 has been postponed to next week 13th May, 2024 due to outbreak of measles in some LGAs in the state.”

The ministry, in a circular signed by the Permanent Secretary, Aisha Umar, explained that the postponement of school resumption “is to mitigate the spread of the disease, and to enable the Primary Health Care Agency vaccinate the age group of the children that are vulnerable to the disease.”

The circular, addressed to the Acting Secretary, Post Primary Schools Management Board; Acting Executive Chairman, Adamawa State Universal Basic Education Board; and Chairman, National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, Adamawa State; specified that all public and private schools “are hereby directed to close down accordingly.”

The state government’s confirmation of measles outbreak in two LGAs that had by that time claimed 42 lives.