The Adamawa State Government has announced the postponement of the resumption of schools for the third term, following the outbreak of measles in some local government areas (LGAs) in the state.
Schools, which had formally reopened on Monday, were instructed to close until the new resumption date of Monday, May 13.
The decision was communicated in a circular dated May 6, 2024, issued by the state Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development.
The circular, signed by the Permanent Secretary, Aisha Umar, stated, “The resumption date of the third term 2023/2024 academic session earlier scheduled to be May 6, 2024, has been postponed to next week, May 13, 2024, due to the outbreak of measles in some LGAs in the state.”
Explaining the rationale behind the postponement, the ministry highlighted the need to mitigate the spread of the disease and enable the Primary Health Care Agency to vaccinate the vulnerable age group of children.
As a result, all public and private schools in the state have been directed to close down accordingly.
The circular was addressed to the Acting Secretary of the Post Primary Schools Management Board, the Acting Executive Chairman of the Adamawa State Universal Basic Education Board, and the Chairman of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, Adamawa State.
The state government had confirmed a measles outbreak in two LGAs on May 3, which had claimed the lives of 42 individuals by that time.