Students in Ghana will soon head back to the classrooms following an authorization from the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. This forms part of government’s planned efforts to ease the COVID-19 induced restrictions on educational activities.
Addressing the nation in his 21st Coronavirus update on Sunday, the president announced that Basic school students from Kindergarten (KG) to Junior High School (JHS) will resume their classroom activities from Friday, January 15, 2020.
Continuing Senior High School (SHS) students will go back to school on January 18, 2021.
However, first year SHS students are expected to begin school on March 10, 2021.
Tertiary students will return to lecture halls from Saturday, Janurary 9, 2021.
These dates were arrived at after government held discussions with various stakeholders within the sector to devise a comprehensive and detailed plan on the reopening of schools.
“So, from 15th January, our children in kindergarten, primary and Junior High, in both private and public schools, will be back in school. All SHS 1 students will start classes from 10th March, with all students embarking on a single-track academic calendar. Their seniors in SHS 2 and SHS 3 will, however, return to school from 18th January. Students in universities and other tertiary institutions are to be in school from Saturday, 9th January.”President Akufo-Addo said.
Meanwhile, President Akufo-Addo also announced the suspension of the double track system for first and final year SHS students given what he said was the expansion of infrastructure in schools across the country.
“I must stress that SHS 3 students in all schools, like SHS 1 students, will no longer run the double track system. The expansion of infrastructure at the various senior high schools, over the last three (3) years, has brought us to this favourable situation. However, the double track system will still be applicable to SHS 2 students in schools that are employing it. Students in universities and other tertiary institutions are to be in school from Saturday, 9th January”, he added.
Schools in the country remained closed since March 15, 2020, as part of the government’s measures to curtail the spread of the COVID-19.
Educational institutions were however reopened partially for final year students to complete their academic work and sit for their exit exams, while continuing students complete their academic terms.
Ahead of this full resumption, many stakeholders and interest groups have advised government to ensure a seamless provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to ensure a safe operationalization of the schools.
