Bolgatanga chapter of the Ghana National Association of Private Schools (GNAPS) has proposed a partial reopening of schools ahead of the full resumption of academic work in January 2020.
In a petition to President Nana Akufo-Addo, the Association said the partial reopening of schools will help provide useful lessons that will guide the full resumption of schools in January next year. They have therefore called for the reopening of schools for students at the upper primary and the Junior High School levels.
While appreciating government’s decision to keep the schools closed, they stated that a wholesale reopening of schools will not be an appropriate step to take since government will not have a foresight of possible challenges that may be encountered when schools are fully reopened so as to put measures in place that will address them.
GNAPS, Bolgatanga chapter therefore wants a partial reopening of schools for upper primary and JHS students in order to identify potential problems so that effective strategies of addressing such problems could be drawn ahead of the full reopening of schools next year. This, they said, should be done in strict adherence to the Covid-19 safety protocols.
“We fully appreciate government’s position on the possible backlash that may emerge should a case be registered when schools resume. We are however of the opinion that a blanket reopening of all schools will not even serve the needed purpose hence the need to pilot the process in order to pick up lessons for the resumption of all schools in January 2021,” a petition to government from the group said.
The request to government which was signed by its Chairman Kris Josef Akubah added “we therefore believe that children who are currently in upper primary to school JHS two should be allowed to resume with strict enforcement of the covid-19 protocols. Lessons could then be drawn which will inform our strategy of moving into 2021 full time academic work”.
They, however, expressed concern over government’s directive for schools to remain closed until next year despite the fact that the committee set up to engage stakeholders to determine the modalities of reopening schools has not completed its work. They are of the view; broader consultations will help in devising measures and strategies for safeguarding students against the Covid-19 pandemic when schools fully resume.
In his 16th address to update the nation on government’s measures to tackle Covid-19, President Akufo-Addo announced the reopening of schools for JHS 2 and SHS 2 in October while disclosing the decision by GES to postpone the remainder of the academic year for all nursery, kindergarten, primary, JHS 1 and SHS 1 students to January 2021.
But GNAPS wants an inclusion of upper primary and JHS 1 students to the reopening.
While expressing their appreciation to government for extending all Covid-19 interventions packages to them, they urged government to expedite the process of disbursing the stimulus package promised SMEs so that private schools and their staff could benefit as the delay in the disbursement is generating discontent with many perceiving the government as being insensitive to their plight.
