Ghana bans visiting hours, religious activities in schools over Covid-19

Parents will no longer visit their wards in school as Ghana eases Covid-19 restrictions, the country’s Education Ministry said on Tuesday, adding that religious activities in all schools have been suspended.

Sector Minister, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, who announced this at a press briefing on Tuesday, June 2, 2020 said the measures are aimed at reducing the rate of Coronavirus infections and fast track contact tracing processes. 

Ghana announced its first phase of Covid-19 restrictions four months after recording the deadly virus.

Schools have since been reopened for final year students to prepare for their exit examinations.

Detailing a number of measures ahead of reopening, Dr Prempeh said: “When schools reopen, they will not be available for religious activities. It is simple, we do not want too many interactions so that [should the unexpected happen], we can trace who might have come to the school with virus. So we want to keep it that only students and their lecturers are in school.”

He further noted: “When the junior and senior schools reopen, there will be no visitors allowed during the period that they are in school. Parents can no longer go and visit their kids for that period”.

Meanwhile, foreign tertiary students who are outside the country and are identified will be allowed to return granted their country will allow them to exit.

Other measures for JHS

All classes are to be split with not more than 30 students in a class. As a reduced school day, classes will be organized from 9 am to 1 pm each day.

There will be no breaks outside the classroom.

Schools will have enhanced daily health protocols.

Schools will be unavailable for religious activities.

No sports or sporting events are allowed.

Guidelines for SHS

All classes are to be split with not more than 25 students in a class.

All day students in boarding schools will now be accommodated into the boarding house

Day schools will have enhanced daily health protocols.

Dining will be in batches in boarding schools.

No visitors will be allowed.

Schools will be unavailable for religious activities.

No sports and sporting events are allowed.

Source: Daily Mail GH