Closure of schools inevitable – coalition of NGOs in education
As Ghana’s covid-19 caseloads continue to rise with reported cases of the virus in some senior high schools, the Ghana National Education Campaign Coalition strongly believes the closure of schools is bound to happen.
The coalition’s concern stems from issues relating to the coronavirus infections in some senior high schools and its resulting agitations.
Reports of covid-19 in Odorgorno SHS, Mawuko Girls and Mfantsipim School were found to be false, but Accra Girls SHS (Accra) and Mpraeso Senior High in Kwahu have recorded cases of coronavirus.
In Accra Girls Senior High School, for instance, parents stormed the premises demanding to take their children home when six students reportedly contracted the disease.
The latest incident to have got the country talking is the case of a final year student of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Senior High School who was reported dead after being left unattended to for hours by school authorities.
The cause of his death is yet to be established.
But the coalition in a statement signed by its Interim Board Chairman, Joseph Atsu Homadzi, was of the view that “should the unfortunate happenings continue, the closure of schools will be inevitable.”
“Less than one month into the reopening of schools, for a smaller section of students, some of the schools have already recorded chaotic incidences which puts the students in great fear and danger,” the statement said.
The coalition also called for investigations into the circumstances leading to the death of the KNUST SHS student.
It also advised the Education Ministry and the Ghana Education Service to put in place a health desk in all senior high schools to provide medical care to students in emergency situations.
Other organisations and individuals have also called for the closing down of schools and advice that the government waits for next year to begin a fresh year.
In Kenya, all primary and secondary schools have been told to remain closed till 2021.
Kenya’s Education Minister, George Magoha, said no final-year national examinations would be held for primary and secondary pupils this year.