Private schools teachers shocked as reopening is postponed to January 2021

The government of Ghana in consultation with stakeholders in education has postponed the reopening of school for KG to SHS1 to January 2021.

Thus teachers and students in both public and private schools will remain home for the next 4 months. 

The president in his 16th National Address indicated that the decision was in the interest of school children.

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Schools have remained closed in Ghana since Mid March and the gradual easing of restrictions for education will not happen for those in lower classes. School activities will not bounce back for learners in KG to SHS1 postponed to January 2021.

Those most hit by this decision are private schools and their proprietors as well as teachers who offer their services in such schools. These are the most hit stakeholders in the education sector and nothing seems to be working in their favour.

They have lost income and teachers in such private schools have remained unpaid for nearly six months.

With the latest update that schools for KG to SHS1 students have been postponed to January 2021, the private school teacher has another 4 painful months to endure. 

The challenges of surviving the rest of the year as a private school teacher are now bigger and the reality scares many. 

What happened to the Government’s 10 member committee to advise the government on modalities of reopening schools?

Their report was supposed to be communicated to the Education Minister by 21st September. With the fallouts from the 16th National Address, the hopes of Private schools, proprietors, and teachers of school reopening before the end of the year has received another big set back.

Public school teachers should be excited about the decisions of the government not to reopen schools for learners in KG to SHS1 until January 2021 because their incomes are still secured.

READ: Save private schools, teachers salary – GNAPST, GNAPS to Nana Addo

That is the exact reverse of teachers in private schools.

Rumours that private schools plan to embark on a demonstration if schools are not reopened by 22nd September was published by some media houses. It was seen as a rush decision and pronouncement since the committee in charge of helping reopen schools was tasked to submit its report on 21st. 

It is anticipated that the association of private schools in Ghana would communicate their stand on the latest decision of the government and their rumoured demonstration plans.

It is time now for the government to support private school teachers to help them survive the hardship inflicted on them by Covid-19 and the seemingly insensitive response of the government to their worsening situation since March 2020. 

If there is anything the private school teachers need from government, it is a stipend to help keep body and soul together. Will the government show some concern to these teaming teachers? How sensitive can government be now? The private school teacher is a pity…What a life, what a year in the life of a private school teacher. 

Source: Edulearnweb.com