President Akufo-Addo has urged students to strictly adhere to Covid-19 protocols as schools across the country reopen for academic activities.
He warned that if students do not cooperate with the safety protocols, the government might have no other option than to close down schools again.
Delivering his 22nd national address on updates to Ghana’s response to Covid-19, he said that the attitudes of students will decide whether or not our schools will remain open.
I now wish to speak directly to the students and children returning to school, and those of you who have already returned. I know that, for most of you, 2020 was a very unfamiliar year, and presented a setback for your preparation for the future. You all saw the struggle your parents, especially working parents, went through with you at home due to school closures. You also know how you struggled to learn from home, even for those of you lucky enough to continue with some of your classes online. The frustrations, the idleness, the absence of classroom or study group intimacy – it has all been extremely difficult for you, your parents, teachers and everybody involved. This is something we should all try to put behind us. Much of that depends on you.
As we take these big steps to go back to school, your attitude, your behaviour, your self-discipline will decide whether or not our schools will remain open.
I am pleading with you, please observe the COVID-19 protocols at all times. You must maintain the level of discipline and sense of responsibility to stop the virus from spreading in your schools and, for day students, at home, as well. Wear your masks at all times. Wash and sanitize your hands regularly. Protect yourself. Protect each other. Protect your teachers. Protect your parents. But, please, do not give me a reason to close down schools again. I pledge to do my best to keep your education going. I want you to assure me, your parents, your teachers and society as a whole, through your actions, that you will do your part as well.
Despite a surge in recorded cases of the disease across the country, the government has announced the reopening of schools.
Last week, tertiary institutions were given the go-ahead to commence academic activities for the 2020/2021 academic year.
Children in kindergarten, primary, junior high school, second and third-year Senior High Schools will resume school from tomorrow Monday, January 18, 2020.
The President, in the address, said that he was ‘encouraged by the preparations being made by many schools in anticipation of the return on Monday’
He also mentioned that the government has taken adequate steps to ensure that schools were safe for the commencement of academic activities.
“Fellow Ghanaians, as our children in kindergarten, primary, junior high school, SHS 2 and SHS 3 resume school from tomorrow, I wish to reiterate that Government has taken the required steps to ensure their safety in school. Heads of institutions, as well as their teachers, have undergone the requisite orientation on “Guidelines for school re-opening during COVID-19”, to enable them assist with compliance of students to the protocols…On our part, Government has also undertaken the fumigation and disinfection of schools, and the provision of sanitisers, masks, liquid soaps, Veronica Buckets, rolls of tissue paper, face shields for learners and staff with hearing impairments, and gloves for care givers and attendants, to schools across the country. All Senior High Schools have been mapped to medical facilities across the country, so that any outbreak of the disease in any such school can be duly contained. Suspected cases in primary and junior high schools will be managed by district health teams through the School Health Programme and the COVID-19 Rapid Response Teams.
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Story by: Jeffrey Nyabor | universnewsroom.com
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