The Ghana National Association of Private Schools (GNAPS) is worried about the continuous closure of pre-tertiary educational institutions within the country.
Speaking to GBC News at Wa, the Acting President of GNAPS, Dr Damasus Tuurosong said the situation is highly unfair to persons and businesses in the sector.
He premised his argument on President Nana Akufo-Addo’s 15th address to the nation on the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr Tuurosong said in the address, the President gave directives for businesses in other sectors of the economy in Ghana to gradually or fully open.
“All other sectors are opening fully. At the last address, they [government] is saying that you can hold conference to whatever capacity; only respect social distancing. Religious organisations also have almost unfettered freedoms. Trade and commerce are fully open. If you go the Wa [Central] market, you will see people rubbing shoulders, others sitting on each other’s laps. The hospitality industry is back in full swing, so why not education? What is so special about the sector?” he quizzed.
Dr Tuurosong struck down arguments that Ghana needed “to get a handle on the Coronavirus pandemic before allowing schools to reopen”. He explained that with the current active viral population in the country being less than two thousand, circumstances in the country make it prime for all schools at all levels to reopen.
“What yardstick or measurement are we using to say that at this point it is safe for us to go to school? Have you had any indication at all of the Ghana Health Service of government coming out to say that when our active viral case is this much, then we will allow schools to reopen?” he questioned.
The Ag. President of GNAPS continued to say that government’s position on the Coronavirus pandemic has always been that “the virus is being well contained and so I want to believe my government. I do not want to question their basis for saying that”.
Dr Tuurosong added that daily transmissions have well reduced from about 400 cases to just within a hundred cases.
He said GNAPS for example had mapped out clearly strategies that would help contain and prevent the spread of the Coronavirus should schools be allowed to reopen. In addition, he stressed the need for government to quicken it steps in organising consultative meetings to allow for more strategies to be developed and nationally accepted to allow for the reopening of pre-tertiary schools.
The Ag. President of GNAPS who doubles as the Director of the Tupasso Centre of Academic Excellence admitted that private schools continue to reel under the financial consequences of COVID-19 pandemic. Touching on the ¢600 million Coronavirus Alleviation Programme, Dr Tuurosong said due to the focus on applicants with lower request amounts, private schools are yet to be credited with funds they requested for.
“Basically little has been done. The only thing that has happened is that they [NBSSI] have invited associations [including GNAPS] and had discussions with them where they say that you people [the associations] should realise that not everyone can get [the monies they requested for] and not everyone can get the amounts they requested for. We just want to be able to give small so that people can survive,” he explained.
Dr Tuurosong called on government and authorities in charge of the disbursement of the loan to quicken their steps to help struggling business particularly in the education sector.
Story filed by Mark Smith.
