Since the arrival of the corona virus pandemic on the shores of our country, Ghana’s leadership has been thrown into a frenzy and a lot of decision was made in respect to the happenings of the time without giving the requisite prioritization to the future. The passage of the Imposition of Restrictions law by the 7th parliament of Ghana under a certificate of urgency, the closing down of schools for over a period of seven (7) months and the intermittent bans on certain aspects of Ghanaian lives like funerals, religious activities among others ascertain this fact. As Covid-19 relaxes it’s iron grip on the world and economies around the world gradually recover from it’s fever, the government of Ghana has taken the bold step to send the children of the country back to the classroom. Today, critics of the government and naysayers are of the view that government’s decision to open schools was a wrong call considering the fact that the Covid-19 is still very much with us. Even though they have made and continue to make some pretty excellent arguments as to why schools should be closed down again, I have compiled a number of reasons why schools must remain open.

Firstly, the corona virus is already in Ghana and has spread to every part of the country. Ghanaian children are therefore not at risk of contracting the virus only at school but even at home. It will therefore not make much difference if schools remain closed and children still play with each other in homes, on our streets, at the markets or even at religious gatherings. The best place therefore to regulate properly what the children do, who they play with and when they do the things they do, is at school. 

Secondly, Ghana’s education sector even before the visitation of this uninvited guest was facing a lot of challenges with the introduction of government’s flagship Free Senior High School education policy. It will therefore be catastrophic to continue keeping the children at home when they should be at school recouping the lessons that were left unlearned.

The third solid reason why government must not consider closing down schools is the fact that the corona virus keeps mutating. This guest of a virus is therefore not leaving any time soon and we must be prepared for the new normal of learning to live with the virus just like the world learnt to live with the common cold. Since education is a vital part of our progress as a people, learning to educate ourselves even in the face of a pandemic must be a priority at this time.

The fourth reason why the government of Ghana’s decision to open schools is a commendable one is the fact that even the countries that were hit the worst by the corona virus are reviving their individual education sectors. China; the mater of all covid-19 related issues, Italy and the United States of America both of whom the virus hit the hardest are currently reviving their education sectors and it is a good thing that Ghana is emulating them.

Education is to some extent at the epicenter of the wheel of economic activities in Ghana as most traders attest to making more sales when schools are in session. Books, food, snacks, beverages and even fabrics among others tend to have higher demands during school going periods as compared to the other periods. With the corona virus pandemic leaving even the world’s most resilient economies on their knees, it is important for the government of Ghana to move the revival of the country’s economy up the ladder of the country’s scale of preference. This therefore is the fifth solid reason why Akufo Addo’s decision to open schools was a step in the right direction. One thing that I find difficult to understand is the silence of these same critics over the constant congregation of people at the supreme court of Ghana in the name of an election petition and also the religious gatherings that continue to host people who sometimes fail to comply with the outlined protocols that should be observed according to health authorities. It is important to note that the future of Ghana is at stake and education is a risk worth taking.

Do you want schools to be closed? Why? Share your insight with us in the comments.

Content created and supplied by: TsaliG (via Opera News )