The Management of the Ghana Education Service has disclosed a new SHS1 reopening date for first-year students.

First-year Senior High School students shall report to school on Sunday 21st March 2021 instead of the earlier date announced.

In a statement signed by the Deputy Director General, Anthony Boateng, he said the action is to give students who have had issues with self-placement time to complete the process.

He encouraged hose who have not completed their school’s admission process to use the extension to complete the process.

According to the Service, rescheduling will also help parents have adequate time to prepare their kids for school. It will as well as give schools additional time needed to prepare to welcome them.

“Management had decided that the reopening of schools for first-year students should be rescheduled for Thursday, March 18 through to Sunday March 21, 2021.

“The spread out period is to enable the schools to structure the admission process in such a way that not too many students get crowded at the school at one particular point in time.”

The Service further reveals the new date will also permit Secondary schools to structure their admission processes to avoid overcrowding in the COVID-19 pandemic era.

Meanwhile, academic work will begin on Monday, March 22, in all schools.

GES also urged parents to ensure that their children leave home with adequate nose masks to protect themselves amid Covid-19. The Service tasked to ensure strict adherence to Covid-19 protocols.

Closure of schools

Government closed schools in March last year to curtail spread of the virus. Educational institutions partially opened for final year students to complete their academic work.

Schools opened for final exams and for continuing students to complete their academic terms.

In August last year, the President announced that, the GES after further consultations, decided to postpone the remainder of the academic year.

Eduwatch calls for strict adherence to COVID-19 protocols

The Executive Director of Africa Education Watch, Kofi Asare, then called on government to ensure strict adherence to safety guidelines. He said this was relevant to the resumption of schools.

He explained government must put in place strict measures to ensure that they observe COVID-19 prevention protocols.

The Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah’s had earlier revealed the president’s deliberation on possible reopening of schools.