The information minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has come out to deny media reports that schools will soon reopen amid the coronavirus outbreak
– According to him, those reports were false
– He said the government had only started engaging teacher unions, parents, and other relevant stakeholders on what it takes to reopen schools to ensure the safety of staff and school kids
Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has come out to deny media reports that schools will soon reopen amid the coronavirus outbreak.
Oppong Nkrumah said the government had only started engaging teacher unions, parents, and other relevant stakeholders on what it takes to reopen schools to ensure the safety of teachers and students.
Addressing the media on Thursday, May 21, 2020, Mr. Oppong Nkrumah said those reports were false.
“There was a media report which said schools to reopen soon. With all due respect, that is not true… Consultations of what it takes to reopen schools as part of the potential easing of the general restrictions that we’re living under are what have started,” he said at the news conference.
On March 15, 2020, President Akufo-Addo announced the suspension of all academic activities, as part of a broader ban on social gathering, so as to stop the spread of COVID-19.
Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah Source: UGC
Following the imposition of these restrictions, some interest groups pushed for the restrictions to be lifted.
But analysts have kicked against any intended move to lift the restrictions on movements especially at a time where the country continues to record increasing numbers of COVID-19 infections.
But some Teacher Unions in the country argued that it is important for schools to remain closed even if the ban on public gatherings is not extended by the President.
According to them, that would help reduce the spread and threat of the coronavirus disease.
In a letter addressed to the Director-General of Ghana Education Service, the unions said they “would not ascribe to the re-opening of the schools, should the President of the Republic decide not to extend the 31st May 2020 deadline and order the re-opening of the schools.”
Meanwhile, the Ghana National Council of Private Schools (GNACOPS) has underscored the need for government to reopen schools.
The Executive Director of GNACOPS, Enoch Kwasi Gyetuah, said schools should be re-opened if the government believes it was safe regardless of the rise in COVID-19 cases in the country .
Despite the refusal of pre-tertiary education teachers in public schools calling for the ban to remain, private schools and private school owners believe the time is ripe for students to return to the classroom.
