Tertiary institutions in Hohoe ready for academic activities

The University of Health and Allied Science's (UHAS) and all other tertiary institutions in Hohoe in the Volta region are said to be prepared for the continuation of academic activities.

The Ghana News Agency gathered that the institutions- School of Public Health, Hohoe Midwifery Training School, St. Francis College of Education (FRANCO) and the St. Teresa’s College of Education (TERESCO), have put measures in place to enable final year undergraduate and post-graduate students return to school on Monday, June 15, 2020, for lessons and their final examinations in the wake of COVID-19.

Professor Paul Amuna, Dean of School of Public Health, UHAS told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview in Hohoe, that the University had put in place all precautionary measures to enable students to have a conducive teaching and learning environment.

He said lecture halls and laboratories had been fumigated to accommodate students in respect of social distancing protocols.

Prof. Amuna said veronica buckets, soaps, alcohol-based sanitizers, and nose masks had all been provided to ensure that students were protected.

The Dean said though the University was carrying out some of its academic activities online, it needed limited congregational classes for effective teaching and learning.

Professor Amuna said the temperature of students would be checked daily and they would be made to observe handwashing protocols before they accessed offices and facilities of the University.

He said since students would return from all parts of the country and neighbouring countries, the University would put in measures to monitor them for a 14-day period when it reopened.

Madam Peace Ivy Ananga, Principal of the Hohoe Midwifery Training School said the School was putting in place all precautionary measures and safety protocols as directed by the Ministry of Health.

She said lecture halls and hostels would be fumigated as part of measures before final year students returned for academic activities.

However, the Ghana News Agency was told that the June 15, 2020 resumption date does not apply to Colleges of Education nationwide because the final years are on "Out Programmes" and would be re-opening in July for just a week to enable them to write their final examinations.

Mr. Raphael Kodzo Kwashie, Principal of St. Francis College of Education (FRANCO) told the GNA that all classrooms and halls of residence of the College were fumigated as it prepared for students to return.

He said a total of 394 students comprising of 116 females and 278 males were in the final year and would be shared in five halls for male students and two for female students in adherence to social distancing protocols.

Mr. Kwashie said students would also go to dinning in batches when they resumed, adding that, the School had acquired handwashing stations to be placed at vantage points.

Ms. Sophia Adjoa Micah, Principal of the St. Teresa’s College of Education (TERESCO) said a fumigation exercise would soon be carried out as the College awaited the arrival of students.