Guinea on Monday reopened schools closed for the past five months due to the Ebola outbreak that has killed more than 8,400 people across West Africa, but fear kept many students at home.
The government's decision came as the number of new infections slowed substantially and a national Ebola commission published security guidelines designed to protect children and teenagers from infection.
All public schools will receive hand sanitizers and thermometres, said commissioner Sakota Keita, while the parents of private school children will have to supply the materials themselves.
United Nations children's fund Unicef also donated 12,000 hygiene kits that contain chlorine and soap.
"The reaction this morning was an overwhelming joy. It's a very big day for children in Guinea," Unicef education specialist Sayo Aoki told dpa.
But few students arrived at the schools and universities on Monday, as concerns over the risk of infection persist.
"I brought my two children to school today, but I am sincerely afraid," said Mariam Bah, whose children attend Safia primary school in the capital, Conakry.
Some educational facilities were unprepared to re-open after the long break.
"We will only start teaching classes next week. The re-opening took us by surprise," said Drissa Conde, a lecturer at the Mahatma Ghandi University in the capital, Conakry.
In Guinea alone, 2,806 people were infected with Ebola, of whom 1,814 died, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Neighbouring Liberia, the country hardest hit by the epidemic, with more than 3,500 deaths, is planning to reopen schools in February, according to President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf's government. However, no date has been set.
Mali was meanwhile declared free of Ebola by its national health department and the WHO late on Sunday, 42 days after the last suspected patient tested negative. Mali reported eight Ebola infections and six deaths.
Guinea reopens schools as Ebola infections slow substantially
Guinea on Monday reopened schools closed for the past five months due to the Ebola outbreak that has killed more than 8,400 people across West Africa, but fear kept many students at home.
The government's decision came as the number of new infections slowed substantially and a national Ebola commission published security guidelines designed to protect children and teenagers from infection.
All public schools will receive hand sanitizers and thermometres, said commissioner Sakota Keita, while the parents of private school children will have to supply the materials themselves.
United Nations children's fund Unicef also donated 12,000 hygiene kits that contain chlorine and soap.
"The reaction this morning was an overwhelming joy. It's a very big day for children in Guinea," Unicef education specialist Sayo Aoki told dpa.
But few students arrived at the schools and universities on Monday, as concerns over the risk of infection persist.
"I brought my two children to school today, but I am sincerely afraid," said Mariam Bah, whose children attend Safia primary school in the capital, Conakry.
Some educational facilities were unprepared to re-open after the long break.
"We will only start teaching classes next week. The re-opening took us by surprise," said Drissa Conde, a lecturer at the Mahatma Ghandi University in the capital, Conakry.
In Guinea alone, 2,806 people were infected with Ebola, of whom 1,814 died, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Neighbouring Liberia, the country hardest hit by the epidemic, with more than 3,500 deaths, is planning to reopen schools in February, according to President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf's government. However, no date has been set.
Mali was meanwhile declared free of Ebola by its national health department and the WHO late on Sunday, 42 days after the last suspected patient tested negative. Mali reported eight Ebola infections and six deaths.
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