President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has announced that schools across the country will resume full academic work beginning 15 January 2021.
The decision to reopen schools stems from lessons learned as Ghana revived parts of the education sector last year, he said.
On 15 March 2020, President Akufo-Addo announced the closure of all schools in the country, along with a ban on public gatherings, as Ghana confirmed its first two cases of COVID-19.
Safety first
Addressing the nation in his 21st update on measures taken against the novel coronavirus, Akufo-Addo said he is convinced that it is now safe to reopen schools.
“The lessons drawn from the reopening of some sections of our educational institutions, in the course of last year, have put us in a much better position to oversee successfully the full reopening of our schools,” the president said.
“Our children must go to school, albeit safely, and we are satisfied that, in the current circumstances, the reopening of our schools is safe.”
He added: “So, from 15 January, our children in kindergarten, primary and junior high, in both private and public schools, will be back in school. All SHS1 students will start classes from 10 March, with all students embarking on a single-track academic calendar.”
No double track for SHS3
The president also said that final-year students of senior high schools will no longer run the double-track system when students resume school due to adequate infrastructure.
“SHS2 and SHS3 will, however, return to school from 18 January. I must stress that SHS3 students in all schools, like SHS1 students, will no longer run the double-track system.
“The expansion of infrastructure at the various senior high schools over the last three years has brought us to this favourable situation.
“However, the double-track system will still be applicable to SHS2 students in schools that are employing it. Students in universities and other tertiary institutions are to be in school from Saturday 9 January.”
Ban mass gatherings
The government said it will ensure all schools in the public and private sector are fumigated before academic work resumes.
“Prior to their return to school, the government, through the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service, will ensure that all institutions, public and private, are fumigated and disinfected.
“Schools and institutions, with their own hospitals and clinics, will be equipped with the necessary personal protective equipment and have isolation centres to deal with any positive cases.”
The president offered the added assurance that schools without clinics and hospitals have been mapped to health facilities.
He said: “All other school and institutions without their own clinics and hospitals have been mapped to health facilities. There will be, for now, no mass gatherings and no sporting activities. However, religious activities for students at school, under the new protocols, will be permitted.
“Social distancing and the wearing of face masks must become the norm in our schools. The requisite provisions have been made to ensure that students at all levels of the education ladder receive the minimum number of contact hours upon their return to school.”
Fred Dzakpata
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