THE Rivers Government said on Monday that any school that reopened before October 6, 2014 would be sanctioned, the News Agency of Nigeria reported.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education Mr Michael West, told newsmen in Port Harcourt that government decided to reopen schools on October 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.

Also speaking the Commissioner for Health, Dr Sampson Parker, said that more than 200 persons in the state had been under surveillance and that the surveillance expired yesterday .

"It is necessary to watch them for some time before October 6.

The min the October 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 October 6.

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

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

"This in compliance with the October 6 resumption date given by the state government," he said.

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