Ghana has announced dates for reopening of schools which were shut to curtail the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) disease in the country.
Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo in a televised address said that all students from kindergarten to Junior High School will return to school on January 15 while tertiary institutions will reopen on 9 January.
Akufo-Addo’s directive comes amidst fears of a second wave of the virus in Ghana.
Schools were shut in March 2020 after the country reported its first case of the virus. Since then more than 55,000 cases have been confirmed, over 54,000 recoveries and more than 300 deaths.
However, the president said his government drew lessons from reopening of some sections of educational institutions in 2020, thus, it is in a better position to commence a new school year.
“Our children must go to school, albeit safely, and we are satisfied that, in the current circumstances, the re-opening of our schools is safe,” he said in his 21st address to the nation on measures taken by government to ease restrictions.
The government said it would supply all learning institutions with protective gear, including face masks.
Mass gatherings and sporting activities remain banned while the country’s land and sea borders remain shut.
SHS students in Form Two and Three will return to school on January 18. Both the SHS1 and SHS3 students will no longer be on a double-track system, President Akufo-Addo disclosed.