The Ghana Education Service (GES) says it is not the responsibility of various heads and administrators of schools to conduct a covid 19 test for students before being admitted to the school. According to the Director-General of GES, Prof. Kwasi Opoku-Amankwah, any demand which goes contrary to the above directive is illegal.
Additionally, he reiterated that no school was allowed to make any demand or charge any fee in the name of conducting a covid 19 test for students.
This directive was given after the president, Nana Addo-Dankwah Akufo-Addo on Sunday, December 3, 2021, announced the reopening of schools at all levels starting January 9, 2021, after ten months of shutting down schools as part of the measures to stem the spread of the coronavirus disease in Ghana.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, the professor confirmed that the government has made provision for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to be presented to all schools, including private institutions.
“The arrangements for the reopening of schools, the PPE that we are putting in place include private schools. But the issue of textbooks and school fees are not part of that arrangement”, he said
He however assured the general public that the Ghana Health Service (GHS) will spearhead the conducting of all tests related to the pandemic in schools if the need arises.