The closure of schools must continue until coronavirus is defeated - GNAT

The National Youth Coordinator of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Mr. Thomas Musah says the closure of schools must continue until we have been able to deal with the coronavirus outbreak.

Speaking on Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5Fm, he said we cannot compromise the lives of students and teachers by reopening schools when we have not dealt with the outbreak.

The COVID-19 he explained is spread through contact and the setting in schools could make the spread of the virus faster.

Mr. Musah called for caution against any plan to reopen schools since it would open the floodgate for more infections.

According to him, we lack the needed infrastructure to observe strict social distancing in our schools.

Even if we are able to observe social distancing or even create more classrooms, we would need more teachers and that is something he said we cannot afford.

"COVID-19 is spread through contacts. We cannot compromise the safety of Ghanaians by reopening schools. Can we provide for all students the needed protection if we reopen school/ We are not there yet, and I think we should tread cautiously. The life of every Ghanaian matter and important.”

He said the decision by the government to rely on E-Learning platforms to keep the schools running is a positive initiative but efforts must be intensified to make disadvantaged students benefit.

The Ministry of Education has introduced a number of platforms, with more in development, to assist children in learning.

For online, we have resources available for SHS students on iCampus Ghana which can be accessed at icampusgh.com using their BECE Index Number plus the last two digits of the year they wrote their BECE as their username. So, for SHS 3 students, add 17 to the end of their BECE index number, 18 for SHS 2 and 19 for SHS 1.

Additionally, the Ghana Learning TV is now available on free-to-air TV, as well as on DStv channel 315, GOtv channel 150 and StarTimes channel 312. We are currently producing learning content for radio broadcast, soon to be available across the country.