PRE-TERTIARY EDUCATIONAL TEACHER UNIONS REJECT THE IDEA OF RE-OPENING SCHOOLS

The association of pre-tertiary educational teacher unions of Ghana opposes the idea of re-opening of schools should the President lift the ban on the social gathering.

The Ghana Education Service (GES) in a letter dated 13th May 2020 called on its major stakeholder to finalize on a blueprint on how to smoothly re-open schools ahead of a possible review on social gathering ban.

The Pre-Tertiary Educational Teacher unions in an addressed to the Director-General of Ghana Education Service indicates their unwillingness to ascribe to the possible re-opening of schools in the coming days, should the President of Ghana decides to lift the ban on 31st May 2020.

The unions went further to warn GES not to compromise and re-open schools in their letter ''Considering the age and exuberance of our students and cannot be sure that they will adhere strictly to the COVID-19 protocol hence the fear that the disease may spread in the schools.''

The union also indicated that most of the schools could still be used as incubation centers of the pandemic, and given the unlimited social interaction and movements which take place there.

They further indicate that apart from the country's health system that is still grappling with handling the situation, the necessary items to be used to observe the public health protocol that will be used by teachers and students are currently not available.

The union also raised concerns about the class size and dormitory population that will make it difficult to observe the social distance in school.