Compliance to coronavirus protocols will be difficult for students – UG Lecturer

Lecturer at the Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Dr. Justice Moses Aheto has insisted that it is not the right time for schools to be reopened for final year students.

To him, regardless of COVID-19 preventive protocols put in place, he fears the virus will still spread further in schools because disregard to regulations is in the nature of Ghanaians.

Speaking to Happy 98.9 FM’s Samuel Eshun on the Happy Morning Show, Dr. Aheto said, ” Don’t forget, compliance is difficult for Ghanaians. And even if you put in place 1 or 2 restrictions, no one will listen to you.”

According to him, it is not safe for students to go back to school. He noted that the behaviour and nature of students would make it difficult for them to comply with COVID-19 etiquettes. “We know how they behave when they go to school. We know that it’ll be difficult for these students to regard and respect restrictions.”

His fears stemmed from the fact that after the government lifted the lockdown placed on the nation some months back, the reaction of some Ghanaians was nothing to write home about. With most disregarding social distancing policies and other COVID-19 preventive protocols.

He fears the social nature of the adolescent and youth will compel them to disregard these policies leading to the further spread of the virus in schools.

The President of Ghana, in his presidential address to the state on issues of COVID-19 two weeks ago announced the reopening of schools for final year students to take their exit exams.

He noted that the partial reopening of schools will be done with regard to all COVID-19 directives to control the spread of the virus.

Portions of the address read; “From Monday, 15th June 2020, the decision has been taken, after engagement with the Teacher Unions, whose co-operation I salute, to reopen schools and universities to allow for final year junior high, senior high and university students to resume classes ahead of the conduct of their respective exit examinations.

Indeed, final year university students are to report to their universities on 15th June; final year senior high school (SHS 3) students, together with SHS 2 Gold Track students, on 22nd June; and final year junior high school (JHS 3) students on 29th June. JHS 3 classes will comprise a maximum of thirty (30) students; SHS classes a maximum of twenty-five (25) students; and University lectures will take place with half the class sizes.