Some parents continue to raise concerns over the safety of their younger children returning to school today Monday January 18, 2021 at a time Ghana’s covid-19 active cases continue to surge.
The concerned parents particularly those who had their children at the crèche level were skeptical as to how the young one’s are going to follow the safety protocols and ensure social distancing among others.
Some parents who spoke with the Republic Press have expressed some level of confidence with measures put in place by government and school authorities to ensure students learn in a safe environment however, many of these parents are not sure if their children’s will be safe in school but have admitted to saying “as for school, they have to go, they have stay home for long, but is it safe particularly at this time that we are hearing the cases are increasing.” Hajia Anetu asked
Another mother of three children with two younger children said “see my children are three, the boy is 7, the other one is 11, one my part, I have provided them with enough toiletries and nose mask with hand sanitizer but what happens in the schools is up to the teachers, as for the children, they are young, they can do anything.” Mrs. Tefutor
“For me, nine months of the children staying at home is too much, I agree that we can no longer keep them at home but the issue is how are these young one’s going to adhere to the protocols.” Hajia Alimatu asked pointing to her four year old daughter
Meanwhile the Ghana Education Service (GES) says all necessary measures have been put in place ahead of the official re-opening of basic schools on Monday, January 18, 2021, for effective teaching and learning.
The Service, in a statement signed by Ms. Cassandra Twum Ampofo, Head of Public Relations Unit, therefore, urged pupils, parents, teachers, and the public not to panic. It said academic work would commence on Tuesday, January 19, 2021.
The statement, directed that all schools should use Monday to tidy up classrooms and school environments for academic work.
“In the light of that, Management wishes to inform all stakeholders that the annual event dubbed” My First Day at School “observed to welcome children entering school for the first time, will be held across all Districts and Regional Education Directorate on Tuesday 19th January 2021.
“Let us get back to school for safe learning,” the statement added.
Ghana has recorded 175 new COVID-19 cases, pushing the number of active cases to 1,404.
The total cumulative case count as of January 11 stands at 56,982 with 55, 236 recoveries.
However, the total number of deaths have increased to 341 from 338 after three more people succumbed to the deadly virus.
According to the GMA, there is the need for increased public awareness campaign and strict adherence to prevention protocols in order to stem the tide of infections in the country.
In a statement, the GMA attributed the increasing case count to a two main factors as follows:
The total disregard for, and the lack of enforcement of all relevant COVID-19 preventive protocols throughout the country and
- Importation of cases from other countries via travelers arriving at the point (s) of entry.
“The COVID-19 situation in the country is alarming and dire at this particular moment. The risk of potential exponential rise in the number of cases cannot be discounted. The various major health facilities (especially in the Accra Metropolis) involved in the management of moderate, severe and critically ill COVID-19 patients are overstretched,” the statement said.
The GMA is therefore calling for testing to be made free or relatively cheaper for Ghanaians.
“The GMA calls for an urgent scale up of COVID-19 Testing and Contact Tracing for all positive cases as well as strict isolation and management of all infected persons to help break the chain of transmission,” they said.
They added that COVID-19 testing should be made free or relatively cheaper for the ordinary Ghanaian who needs testing as a result of direct exposure or when symptomatic for COVID-19.
“Furthermore, there should be government led free mass testing in all identified COVID-19 hot spots. The GMA believes these will help address the current short falls in our testing and contact tracing regimes,” GMA said.