COVID-19: CHOPSS calls for closure of private second-cycle schools

The National Executive Council of the Conference of Heads of Private Second-Cycle Schools (CHOPSS) has called for the closure of all private second-cycle schools across the country by Wednesday, March, 18, 2020.

The decision is in pursuance of the directives for closure of all Senior High Schools by the President, on Sunday, March, 15, 2020, as part of measures to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus outbreak in the country.

A statement copied to the Ghana News Agency, and signed by Mr Naphtali A. Kyei-Baffour, Public Relations Officer (CHOPSS), said all heads of private senior high schools should release all first and second year students to go home immediately until further notice, leaving the third years to prepare for their West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

Under no conditions should first and second year students be kept on campus under the excuse of taking the full fees of second term from them before releasing them to go home, it said.

“All forms of classes, either vacation class or remedial classes in our various schools should seize immediately and all final year students should remain in school to prepare for the upcoming WASSCE under strict adherence to the basic precautionary measures on COVID-19,” the statement said.

“We encourage all school authorities to use the available spaces due to the absence of the first and second year students to implement the social distancing protocol as well as other precautionary steps as laid out by the Ghana Health Service”.

It urged all heads and proprietors to be at post to monitor the final year students and observe the necessary precautionary measures on COVID-19 as well.

Source: GNA