Bolgatanga, June 29, GNA – Junior High Schools in the Upper East Region are yet to receive Personal Protective Equipment and hygiene materials from government to prevent staff and pupils from contracting and spreading the novel coronavirus disease.
All final year pupils of Junior High Schools across the country are expected to resume school and prepare for their exit examination, Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
As part of preventive measures against the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, President Akufo-Addo announced that all the schools would be supplied with PPE and other hygiene materials to ensure that both teachers and pupils were protected against the Coronavirus infection.
When the Ghana News Agency visited some schools in the Bolgatanga Municipality on the reopening day, Monday, June 29, 2020, it observed that all the schools had reopened and in some schools, classes were in session.
Although almost all the management of the various schools failed to speak, GNA observed that pupils per class ranged from 25 to 30, however, majority of the schools did not have hygiene materials such as Veronica buckets, soap or hand sanitizers stationed at the premises.
It observed that almost all the teachers in the schools visited had nose masks and hand sanitizers, but many of the pupils did not have either nose masks or sanitizers.
When the GNA contacted Mr Augustine Ayirezang, the Regional Director of Education, Ghana Education Service, he confirmed that the region had not received its share of the PPE and personal hygiene materials yet.
He said the protective items were forthcoming and added that as soon as the materials arrived they would be shared among the schools to help protect both teachers and pupils.
The Regional Director disclosed that the Junior High Schools were fumigated and disinfected by the Zoomlion Company Limited and were safe for academic work to take place.
GNA