Ebola: Rivers State Promises to Sanction Any School That Dares Resume Before Oct. 6

Mr Michael West, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education of the Rivers Government said on Monday that any school that reopened before Oct. 6 would be sanctioned.

While speaking with newsmen in Port Harcourt, he said that government decided to reopen schools on Oct. 6 to ensure that measures were put in place against the spread of Ebola Virus Disease.


He said that schools were required to provide water and ensure cleaner environment for their pupils and students before resumption of classes.

Contributing, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Sampson Parker, said that more than 200 persons in the state were under surveillance.

``The surveillance days will expire today, Sept. 22, and it is necessary to watch them for some time before Oct. 6.

``The ministries of health and education met and arrived on the Oct. 6 date for schools to reopen and we believe the date is okay,’’ he said.

Meanwhile, correspondents of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) who checked some schools, reports that they complied with the directive not to reopen till Oct. 6.

Rev. Fr. Anthony Baabel, the Principal of Stella Maris College, Port Harcourt, said the school would resume on Oct. 5 .

``Our students are expected to arrive in the school on Oct. 5, while lectures will resume on Oct. 6.

``This in compliance with the Oct. 6 resumption date given by the state government,’’ he said.

Mr Bright Orluwosu, Proprietor of Nobles Schools, said his schools would resume on Oct. 6.

``Our schools may not have time for mid term break because of the short period left for first term.

``But, we will see how to adjust to make up for the number of days lost because of the Ebola Virus Disease.

``On our part, we have put in place protective measures aimed at protecting our pupils and students against the Ebola Virus.

``First, the sanitary condition has been improved while hand sanitizers are now available in all the classes,’’ he said.

The state Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Chief Godfrey Nwogu, said teachers had been directed not to resume classes until necessary measures were put in place for their protection against the Ebola Virus Disease.