Close down all schools, postpone examinations; PTA Council, NDC tell government

The National Council for Parents Teachers Associations is calling on government to close down all schools and postpone subsequent exit examinations scheduled to be taken by final year Junior and Senior High school students.

A statement, released by the Association and signed by its president, Alexander Yaw Danso, indicates, among other reasons that, “inadequate space in some schools has resulted in overcrowding in dormitories, defeating the purpose of the social distancing protocol,” causing a surge in the spread of the virus.

Lack of spacing, the statement further indicates, has thwarted government’s intent of converting all Day students to boarders until completing their examinations. This has made those commuting to and from school, more susceptible to the virus, increasing the probability of infecting their colleagues.

Some Senior High Schools, from the North East and Oti regions, Ghanasonline.com has learnt, are yet to receive some of the Personal Protective Equipment promised by government, forcing students to improvise nose marks to protect themselves.

“The schools which have received supplies did not get full supply of the PPEs” the statement added.

Other schools that have recorded new cases in the Volta region are Mawuli, Bishop Herman and Mawuko Girls’ SHS.

Opposition National Democratic Congress, have equally called for the closure of schools to avert further spread of the virus.

At a press conference delivered at the party’s head office, National Communication’s Officer, Samuel Gyamfi, indicated, the president is prioritizing the upcoming elections over the WASSCE government claims is the purpose for the reopening of schools.

He says the agenda of government is to get the students to register for the December polls and therefore urged parents to withdraw their wards from the schools to protect them from contracting the virus.

Meanwhile, Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has indicated, several PPEs have already been discharged to ensure protocols are adhered to in all schools.

However, the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools say they see no reason for schools to be closed down. They say students are anxiously preparing for their exam psychologically and postponing the exam and asking them to go home would rather not help.