The scourge of Coronavirus epidemic is gradually impacting negatively on the nation’s educational system as pupils of both primary and secondary schools in three states of the federation are reportedly shunning school.
Findings by BUSINESSDAY revealed that the most affected states include, Lagos, Ogun and Oyo where attendance has reportedly dropped significantly.
Though the country has only recorded few cases of victims who have contracted the dreaded disease, parents of school pupils in the affected states are said to be apprehensive of the likelihood of their children and ward contracting the scourge.
Only recently, an Italian was said to have been admitted into the emergency ward of the National Disease Control Centre located in Yaba area of Lagos.
Though, he is believed to be responding to treatment, efforts are also being geared towards bringing all the people he had come in contact with for tests, the news that the scourge has found its way into the country has raised a lot of apprehension in the country.
The unnamed Italian was said to have visited some places in the neighbouring Ogun State whose government has brought no fewer than 26 others into the various emergency centres located across the state.
During some visitation to schools in the affected state, most of the teachers were reluctant to elaborate on why attendance had dwindled but indeed confirmed the development.
“We are currently witnessing sharp drop in the attendance of our pupils in the last few weeks but I can’t categorically tell you that the development is connected to the prevailing news that the country is having the issue of the dreaded Coronavirus disease,” says a teacher in a public school in Abeokuta.
Some parents who spoke to our correspondent in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital said they deliberately refused their children to attend school because of the disease.
“How would I allow my children to go to school when we heard that the scourge is in town? Let them stay at home until we are sure that the disease is gone for good,” a parent who pleaded anonymity told our correspondent.
Mark Mayah
