The Parents Teacher Association and School Management Committees have advised against the reopening of schools in the wake of a surge in COVID-19 cases in Ghana.
The groups at a stakeholder consultation pointed out that it would not be advisable to reopen schools now as lives of teachers, students and other school workers may be put at risk due to the difficulty in maintaining social distance at schools.
The recommendation was contained in a statement signed by the Executive Director of Africa Watch, Kofi Asare.
“In the midst of an increasing community spread, it is not advisable to consider reopening schools as lives of teachers, students and other school workers may be put at risk due to the difficulty in maintaining social distance at school and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene logistical constraints in schools. The GES should not advise the government to reopen schools now,” the statement said.
The groups recommended that the GES’ future decision to reopen schools must be “based on science with published convincing data in support and consensus by stakeholders, especially parents.”
The stakeholder online consultation was organised after the GES requested proposals for reopening of schools in the country.
Schools must be reopened if it’s safe
Teachers from the public schools have also asked the government to abort any possible plans of reopening schools.
The Ghana National Council of Private Schools (GNACOPS) has however argued otherwise.
According to GNACOPS, the schools should be opened if the government believes it’s safe regardless of the rise in COVID-19 cases in the country.
Schools in Ghana have been closed since 15th March, 2020 as part of measures to stop the spread of COVID-19.
