2nd Year JHS, SHS students return to school
Second-year students in senior and junior high schools (JHS and SHS) yesterday reported to school to begin 10-week classes to complete the 2019/20 academic year.
The reopening followed a directive by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, after consultations with relevant stakeholders.
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Due to the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, all universities, SHSs and basic schools, both private and public, were closed down in March this year.
However, final-year SHS students were recalled on June 22, 2020 to undergo six-week academic work, after which they wrote the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) from August 3 to September 4, 2020.
Also, second-year Gold Track students in SHS returned to school for six weeks, from June 22 to July 31, before proceeding on vacation.
Final-year JHS students underwent 11 weeks of academic work from June 29 to September 11, 2020 and eventually wrote the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) between September 14 and 18.
On August 30, this year, the President, in his 16th address to the nation on measures taken to control the spread of the COVID-19, announced that second year JHS and SHS students were to resume school yesterday.
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The Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Professor Kwasi Opoku-Amankwa, said the schools, including classrooms, had been fumigated.
According to him, the government had provided the necessary logistics to ensure smooth academic work, noting that each student had been provided with three face masks, while the schools had received thermometer guns, hand sanitiser, liquid soap and tissue.
“Our philosophy for the phased reopening of schools remains the same: to move from closure to a resilient educational system by ‘Building Back Better’ and supporting our students to complete the 2019/20 academic year,” he added.
Accra
Joshua Bediako Koomson reports that during a visit to some schools by the Daily Graphic, it was observed that all students who reported were provided with personal protective equipment (PPE) such as face masks and hand sanitiser, while Veronica buckets had also been placed at vantage points to ensure the frequent washing of hands by both students and teachers.
In all the schools visited, some students were seen tidying up, while others were in the classroom doing their own private studies.
At the Osu Presby SHS, some classes were in session.
Tamale
From Tamale, Mohammed Fugu reports that many students had reported in some schools, including the Tamale Islamic SHS, the Gbayamli Methodist JHS, the Zosimili JHS and the Tamale SHS.
Their temperature was taken and they were provided with face masks before they were allowed to enter the classrooms or dormitories.
Some of the students commended the government for putting in place effective measures to enable them to return to school, adding that all of them could not access the virtual learning programme while at home, and that with their return to school, they would be able to catch up with their mates.
Ho
During a visit to the Mawuko Girls’ SHS in Ho at 10 a.m. yesterday, there were a few students on the compound, reports Mary Anane-Amponsah.
The Headmistress, Madam Ernestina Peniana, said the school expected about 819 students and that it was prepared to receive them.
"For Mawuko School, official reopening begins on Wednesday; we are using Monday and Tuesday to tidy up the school and very soon PPE will be received and distributed to the students," she said.
And at the Ho Kpodzi Basic 'B' School, only 31 students, out of 57, and nine out of 16 teachers had arrived at the time of the Daily Graphic visit at 11 a.m.
Sunyani
From Sunyani, Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah reports that at the Sunyani SHS, a team of teachers and administrators was at the entrance to check the temperature of students before allowing them access to the compound.
As of 10.30 a.m. yesterday, only 10 out of the expected 1,595 students had been registered.
The Assistant Headmaster (Academic), Mr. Mark Williams Amoako, said most of the students were expected to report in the evening.
Bolgatanga
At the St John's JHS in Bolgatanga, students who had reported to school were seen arranging their desks for academic work to begin, reports Vincent Amenuveve.
At the Bolgatanga Girls’ SHS (BOGISS), two students, Gladys Kaminta and Sakina Issah, said they could not study effectively while at home and lauded the government for easing the restrictions to enable them to complete the academic year.