The Ministry of Information regardless of the increasing number of COVID-19 infections in Senior High Schools (SHS) has insisted that students are safer in schools than being released to go home.
According to the ministry, it cannot be convinced that the risk of infection of the novel coronavirus is and will be higher in schools than in homes and the community at large.
The Deputy Minister for Information, Pius Enam Hadzide speaking on the Happy Morning Show in an interview with Happy 98.9 FM’s Samuel Eshun said, “No one said the kids will not be exposed whilst they are in school. But we have eliminated all risks.
The Deputy Minister motioned that by mapping schools to Health Institutions and donating several face masks and sanitizers to them, they were eliminating the risks of infections in the schools.
He reiterated, “We admit that even in the schools, there will be a possibility of one or two infections and we have made provision for that”
On his authority, the level of compliance with rules and regulations in schools is very much higher as compared to compliance in their communities and homes. “The compliance of students is tried knowledge.”
“In schools, there have always been rules and the students have largely adhered to them. The Ghanaian student is law-abiding at heart and only a few will disregard rules. Parents know that their kids are more controlled in schools than in the community and home,” he stated.
The minister went on to refute claims it had not provided all education institutions with PPEs to ensure the safety of students. To him, the claims being made are all “blankets claims” as till this point in time no names of the said institutions have popped up.
He however assured listeners and parents that the allegation will be interrogated and those responsible for depriving the students of the PPEs will be held accountable.
Pius advised parents to be calm and assured them that the government is ever ready to engage with the leadership of the National Parents and Teachers Association to address their call for the release of their kids from schools.
In the past few days, the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic has increased exponentially in schools. This caused some fear and panic amongst parents leading them to call for the closure of schools.
In the case of Accra Girls Senior High School, parents stormed the school of their wards to forcefully take them home after six (6) students reportedly contracted the coronavirus.
As at today, a joint statement by the Ghana Education Service and the Ghana Health Service has confirmed that fifty-five (55) students and staff at the Accra Girls’ Senior High School have tested positive for COVID-19.
By: Joel Sanco