COVID-19: GES issues guidelines on reopening schools

COVID-19: GES issues guidelines on reopening schools

The Ghana Education Service (GES) has issued guidelines for reopening schools.

Dubbed: Guidelines for reopening schools During COVID-19, the guidelines are part of the measures the government has put in place to ensure all educational institutions are safe for teaching and learning.

With the guidelines, which have been disseminated across the country on various social media platforms, the GES seeks to promote adherence to all COVID-19 protocols in order to make schools safe for learners, staff and workers. education.

“I want to assure all stakeholders, including parents and guardians, of our readiness to support the provision of good quality education for all of our learners, even in these times of COVID-19.

“Our goal in these times is to provide quality education in a safe and healthy environment. At the same time, we will continue to build a more resilient education system that will ensure lifelong learning for our learners, even in emergencies, ”GES Director General Prof Kwasi Opoku-Amankwa said in the guidelines.

Goal

The guidelines say Ghana’s determination to defeat the virus has been guided by science and available evidence.

“As we prepare to reopen our schools to allow learners to continue their academic work, it is important that we establish general guidelines for the safe operation of our schools,” he added.

“These guidelines are intended to help regional and district directors of education, as well as principals, operate safely in the country. It is important to note that the broad directions described in this document are a general guide and should be adapted, if necessary, to meet the particular situation of each region, district or school, in accordance with the protocols and guidelines for reopening schools. , “It said.

It also aimed to provide clear and concrete measures for safe operations through the prevention, early detection and control of COVID-19 in schools and other educational institutions.

He said if done right, maintaining the safety of school operations during the reopening period and beyond could promote public health.

Fundamental principles

The goal of the GES, he said, was to ensure the safety of learners, teaching and non-teaching staff at school.

To help stop the spread of the disease, he warned learners, teachers and other sick and sick staff to stay home and not to go to school.

He instructed schools to apply regular hand washing with soap under running water, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer, and regularly disinfect and clean school surfaces such as door handles. door, tables and chairs.

In addition, he said schools should enforce the wearing of face masks at all times, promote social distancing during school gatherings (assemblies and worship meetings) and meals.

The document stated that all schools were to be disinfected before the arrival of learners and staff, and that education directors were to ensure that their facilities were disinfected.

Facilities

He said schools would be equipped with hand washing facilities and hand sanitizer, and principals should liaise with district and regional directors for their facilities.

“Learners and staff will be provided with reusable masks that must be worn at all times when going to, going and coming back from school. Hearing impaired learners and staff will be provided with age-appropriate face shields to be worn at all times and supported by staff for safety and cleaning, ”he said.

In addition, stay-at-home moms, caregivers and teachers should regularly inspect face shields, while gloves would be provided to caregivers / stay-at-home moms / school attendants for learners with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs), according to the press release.

Class size

Regarding class sizes for lower and upper secondary schools, the document states that district directors and principals should use their discretion to deal with particular situations in their districts and schools.

“Class times and breaks must be as stipulated by the GES and subject to approved COVID-19 security protocols.

“Toilet visits (ie toilets and urinals) should be regulated to promote social distancing and safety. Parents are encouraged to provide their children with food (e.g. snacks) when they go to school in order to minimize the movement of learners for food in and out of school premises. school, ”he says.

For kindergarten children, he said school leaders should ensure regular disinfection of furniture and other teaching / learning resources, as well as regular hand washing with soap under running water. current.