COVID-19: It’s not critical yet to close down schools – GES

Following COVID-19 cases recorded in some schools, the Council of the Ghana Education Service (GES) says it will only close down schools when it becomes necessary on the advice of the Ghana Health Service and Ministry of Health.

The chairman of the Ghana Education Service (GES) Council, Michael Nsowah speaking in an interview on Anopa Kasapa on Kasapa 102.5 FM monitored by Georgeweb.org added that “no part of the community is spared by the menace of the novel virus, consequently sending students back home is not a step in the right direction”.

Meanwhile, the Service in a statement issued earlier said it has deployed some 200 personnel including individuals from the Ghana Education Service and the Ghana Health Services to monitor the COVID-19 situation in various Senior High Schools across the country.

It added in the statement that all schools had been assigned to nearby health facilities to ensure immediate response to any suspected or confirmed COVID-19 case.

However, the Minority NDC Caucus in Parliament has petitioned the Akufo-Addo led the government to for the second time close down schools as the country’s coronavirus cases keep increasing.

“We must prioritize the lives of the students, after all, how can sick or dead students write exams. The examinations can be postponed but the safety of our future leaders cannot be postponed,” it said in a statement.

The Chairman of the Council reacting to the petition of the Minority in Parliament said “the novel virus has reached out to every part of the world. There is no part of the society where you don’t have COVID-19. What we have to do is to ensure we protect ourselves”.

He furthered that “we are all in danger and so mandatory wearing of face mask, regular handwashing with soap under running water among other protocols should be observed at all times.

READ ALSO: WAEC proactively extends registration deadline for 2020 Nov/Dec

Mr. Nsowah assured that the Ghana Education Service under the auspices of the Ministry of Education has put adequate measures in place to protect all the students nationwide from the deadly virus that has at least claimed 129 lives as of July 7, 2020.

Source: Georgeweb.org