Plateau Shuts Schools Indefinitely As Diphtheria Scare Raises Health Concerns
The Plateau State Government has suspended academic activities indefinitely across all public and private primary and secondary schools as health authorities move to contain suspected diphtheria cases reported in four local government areas.
The shutdown, which takes effect Monday, September 7, comes as a precautionary response to reports of suspected infectious disease in Jos North, Jos South, Wase and Bassa Local Government Areas.
The directive affects schools that have already resumed academic activities, effectively putting the state’s education system on hold while the government assesses the extent of the suspected outbreak.
Announcing the decision on Saturday, the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Joyce Lohya Ramnap, said the measure was necessary to protect pupils, students, teachers and other members of the school community from possible exposure.
School proprietors, administrators and teachers have consequently been directed to discontinue academic activities from Monday, while parents and guardians have been advised to keep their children and wards at home until the government gives further instructions.
The government did not announce a specific resumption date, saying schools would remain closed until the situation had been properly assessed and further guidance issued.
“Further information on the resumption of academic activities will be communicated to the public in due course,” Ramnap said in the statement.
Diphtheria is a contagious bacterial infection that can spread through respiratory droplets and close contact, making schools particularly vulnerable to transmission because of the concentration of children and staff in enclosed environments.
