The Upper East Regional branch of the Ghana National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) has expressed with dismay government’s approach towards the fight against COVID-19 in Basic and Second cycle schools in the region.
According to the association, the release of only veronica buckets and liquid soap to the schools without sanitizers and nose masks for teachers and students could be a recipe for COVID-19 spike.
Government prior to the partial reopening of basic schools had assured that, adequate Personal Protective Equipment including nose masks, hand sanitizers, hand washing facilities among others would be provided all basic and secondary schools to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
But Speaking on A1radio, Day Break Upper East Program, Regional Chairman of NAGRAT, Mr. Samuel Atampoya, described as unfortunate government’s apathy towards the safety of both teachers and students in basic schools amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Will you believe that almost all the schools both the Junior High and Senior High Schools in the Upper East Region only have a share of one veronica bucket each and two mini gallons of liquid soap, but no face masks, no hand sanitizers to either the teacher or students.
So sad isn’t it, now if the government is talking about protecting students and teachers where is that coming from. We have one life to live, but there are different professions one can find fit. So, fellow members, make sure that the environment you find yourselves in is well protected against the virus if not, do not risk your lives”.
Mr. Atampoya cautioned that, any head teacher who harasses their members to teach without the required PPE shall be taken on by the association.
“The association wants its members alive, so you should know how to protect yourselves. And we will make sure that any head teacher that thinks of intimating you for your protection sake will be uprooted. We will let the law deal with such a head teacher”.
Meanwhile, A1 Radio’s Reporters visits to some public schools in the rural communities in the Upper East Region, observed that majority of the students were without any personal protective equipment.
Students of some schools also appealed to the government, NGOs and benevolent persons to assist them with PPEs.
However, the schools were having only veronica buckets with tissue papers and in some cases without tissue papers.
Source:|A1radioonline.com|101.1MHZ|Frederick Yinbil|Ghana
