W/R – Schools Will Not Shut Down, We Will Manage The Situation-Minister
The Western Regional Minister, Kobby Okyere Darko Mensah has assured the general public that schools will not be closed down following the five Senior High Schools in the region recording cases of COVID-19.
According to the minister, though about 5 schools have contracted the COVID-19 cases in the region but that is not enough basis for the schools to be closed down. He went on further to say that it Comorbidities situations which seems to be one of the major concerns in the fight against COVID-19 but it is not a challenge for young students therefore they are ready to monitor and manage the situation to make sure that the children are able to go through the semester and write the exams.
Speaking to Beachfmonline after participating in the maiden voters registration exercise in the Amanful West Constituency last Sunday, the Minister assured the general public that COVID-19 cases in the schools will be manages to arrive at better decision as the day goes by instead of closing down the school.
“I will not use that word, the children are there to work hard, learn and pass an exam, my own child is a final year student at Achimota College, and he is observing the protocols as well as the school. People have said so many things but the business of bringing up an equation of closing down the schools, but the critical issues of concerned has always been people with Comorbidities which is not so much among children but with every situation that arises, we will manage it and make sure that the children are able to go through this semester and write the exams, pass and come home”
According to him the only means through the school could avert subsequent infections in the various Senior High Schools is to adhere to standard COVID-19 protocols since detecting the virus in its early stages can be a bit of a challenge.
“I think that the only way was to stop it was to observe the COVID-19 protocols, there is no two ways about it, but we also know that we just opened the schools, and people had come from their various quarters into the school and you might not know what they brought from their various homes. Checking temperatures in the next five minutes can change based on your reaction to the infected, therefore people might have been admitted into the schools who might be infected early before admission”.
He applauded various COVID-19 management teams in the various schools in the fight against COVID-19
“Even before the children went to school, we also planned that there can also be the likelihood that people will get the infection so we instructed every school to set up isolation centers and set up medical teams and their own COVID-19 management teams and it because of these measures that is why the school management have been able to isolate infected students. It show that we are really on track and if it even goes further definitely we will be looking as the situation to take the necessary decision’’
The Western Regional Public Relations officer for Ghana Education Service, Kate Biney has revealed that, about five schools in the region have recorded the COVID-19 cases. “In Archbishop Poter Girls too we had one case but there are other cases which result haven’t come in yet”
The Metro director of education Sekondi Takoradi Metroplotan Assembly (STMA) has also confirmed on Adekye Mu Nsem confirmed to Kwame Offei, that Senior High such as Adiembra, Archbishop Porters and Ahantaman have currently recorded with 2,1 and 1 respectively.
The minister finally shared his impression about the process leading to the securing of voter registration at the Amanful West Electoral Area
“It took me just about five minutes to finish, there is peace over here and I believe that this is it how suppose to be all over the place. In my electoral area Amanful West. I am happy and grateful that first day looks very right”.
By Kwame Offei
