BORESA KAMALDEEN WRITES

BORESA KAMALDEEN'S OPINION ON RE-OPENING OF SCHOOLS AMIDST COVID-19

Ghana Education Service is nursing plans to resume academic work in our various educational institutions.

I am tactically not in support of any plan to reopen schools. It will spell doom for us as a country.


The coronavirus pandemic spreads through contact.


Practically, we need to observe social distancing to curb its spread.


In our various institutions, there's massive massive overcrowding and congestion.


In our second cycle institutions, overcrowding is evident in the classrooms, dining halls and dormitories.


Social distancing, which is a cardinal protocol in limiting the spread of the pandemic, would not be dully observed in our overcrowded schools.


The pandemic is not showing signs of decline.


Why must we then be nursing plans to resume academic activities?


We would be aiding in the spread of the coronavirus pandemic if we kowtow to this plan by GES.


Teachers would be at the suffering end should we accept that proposal.


We have no adequate measures to ensure that students returning from home are tested and screened to ensure they are not carrying the disease.


I see the call of stakeholders to reopen as a premature request.

The disease has kept soaring and showing no sign of abatement.


For the sake of public safety and health, we should defer such a plan and focus on fighting for the utter elimination of this global enemy.


If it means forfeiting the entire academic calendar, so be it.


It's better to have the entire academic calendar lost , than to risk the lives of others.


We teachers are not ready to risk our lives and the lives of our students.


Hospitals and polyclinics are not adequately resourced to handle more cases of the disease.


Why should we be pushing an agenda that would jeopardise the health of a larger population, when our health institutions are not well equipped and resourced to handle?


AUTHOR: BORESA KAMALDEEN