Sierra Leone reopens schools after 9-month closure due to Ebola

Schools in the west African state of Sierra Leone reopened Tuesday after sitting at home for nine months due to the Ebola virus.

Some of the children were excited and happy to be back in school after a long time whilst others were a bit sceptical noting that government should have waited until WHO have declared the country "Ebola free".

This new academic school year will run from April to November on a two term system and pupils will be observing the "avoid body contact method" as a way of securing their safety in schools.

Before the opening of the schools, 80 percent of the schools had been decontaminated and dechlorinated through out the country especially schools that were used as holding and treatment centers by the Ministry of Education to ensure the children go to a conducive and safe atmosphere.

The turn out in most of the schools visited by xinhua are encouraging being the first day at school. In most of the schools the temperature of every child is taken and made to wash their hands before they are let into the schools.

The reopening of schools was originally set for the March 30 this year but had to be delayed to because the Ministry of Education wanted to ensure "the schools are decontaminated and disinfected before the children go school". Endi