Govt yet to give out coronavirus equipment

Basic schools in the country, have reminded government to honour it promise to equip them with necessary COVID-19 tools as they feverishly prepare for the reopening for final year students.

According to the school heads, they are set to reopen except that they are yet to receive equipment and materials for the management of the killer virus as promised them by government for smooth stay of students and teachers.

The authorities, who spoke in turns to the media during a disinfection exercise by waste management company Zoomlion, financed by the Ghana Education Service (GES), said they are set for the task ahead as the fight against COVID-19 continues, but said their job would be smoother when government fulfills its part of the bargain.

Meanwhile, the leadership of the Conference of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) yesterday expressed similar concern, when it met President Akufo-Addo at the seat of government, Jubilee House.

But the President allayed their fears assuring by Sunday, the promised materials will be delivered to the various schools nationwide.

Government on announcing the resumption of schools for final year students, disclosed plans to provide schools with items such as Veronica Buckets, thermometer guns, sanitizers, facemasks among others at no cost to parents and students.

But barely a week to the reopening of these schools, there is been no sign of these important items from neither the Education Ministry nor the Ghana Education Service, though the schools say they are in constant touch with them to have the items supplied.

Speaking in separate interviews with journalists during the disinfection exercise on Wednesday in Ho in the Volta Region, the headmasters and headmistresses expressed concern about the near delay and called on those in charge to hasten the process to forestall any setback.

The nationwide exercise has seen basic and Senior High Schools in the Volta and Oti Regions disinfected to rid the schools of any bacteria or virus causing diseases, including the novel coronavirus.

It is the second time in two months, second cycle institutions for instance, are being disinfected since the outbreak of the virus in Ghana in March.

The one week exercise has seen several schools, including the Dome A.M.E Zion Basic School, Fiavi SDA Basic School, Fiavi M.A /Global Basic School, and the Fiavi E. P Basic School all in the Volta Region benefitting.

In the same vein, the Holy Spirit College of Education, Sacred Heart Senior High School, Prosper College Senior High School, Wallahs Academy Senior High School, all in Ho and many others in Volta and Oti regions also disinfected on Tuesday.

Assistant Headmaster of Dome A.M.E Zion Basic School, Ernest Adrator, thanked government for the initiative, adding the school was fortunate to have been provided with sanitizers before it was closed down, but are looking forward to what government has promised.

“For my colleague teachers, they are ever ready, they want to come because they want to prepare the final year students. Now seeing that the government has sent another group to come and fumigate the classrooms for us, we are very grateful to the government for that particular one also.

But we already heard also that government will provide Veronica Buckets, sanitizers and face masks, that one has not yet come, but we are hoping that they will live up to expectation so that when they come things will move on well”.

With the final year student population of just 20, Mr Adrator, said they are sure to follow the safety protocol measures outlined by the government to the latter.

While applauding government for the disinfection programme, Fiavi S.D.A Basic School headmaster, Lona Kodzotse, said the school is going to ensure the 51 final year students follow strictly, the protocol measures.

He said, anyone who flouts the directive by the president, would be punished to serve as a deterrent to others.

“What we are saying is that we are appealing to the government to send the things that are needed for the smooth resumption of school, i.e. the hand sanitizers, facemasks and Veronica Buckets and everything that is needed to bring confidence to both students and teachers”.

Headmistress of Ho Fiave E. P School Complex, Lenna Evelyn Abena Ackah, was appreciative of the initiative to disinfect the schools by the government, as the virus continues to spread in the midst of the resumption of schools.

She assured, school authorities are committed to do their part, so that the final year students can complete their examination with success.

She also added her voice to calls to government to release the promised COVID-19 materials on time.