The Minister for Education, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh has outlined, in detail, the specific guidelines for the safe reopening of our schools and universities at a press briefing organised by the Ministry of Information on Tuesday in Accra.

According to the Minister of Education who doubles as Manyhia constituency MP, the reopening is for any final year students to learn and complete their mandatory examinations and nothing more, with social distancing protocols still in place.

He said on the reopening of schools on June 15, parents and guardians will not be allowed to visit their wards in boarding schools during the period.

He said students will also not be available for religious and sporting activities, as well as entitled to only four hours of teaching, from 9 am to 1 pm with 15 minutes break period every 45minutes.

In addition, there will not be the normal assembly periods with borders in SHS's going for dining in batches in adherence to the social distancing protocols.

All students will be provided with 3 reusable sets of face masks to protect themselves while in school.

However, all days students would be accepted into boarding houses in Senior High Schools who provide accommodation for students.

He also cautioned parents not to send their unwell wards to school when they reopen.

BECE Exams

Junior High School students will be in school for 11 weeks to prepare for their BECE which will start in the 12th week.

WASSCE Exams

Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh said due to the gravity of the pandemic, the Council have allowed for Ghana specific examinations for its students.

He said the Senior High Schools will have 5 weeks to study for their exams which will also start in the 6th week.

Universities reopening

Foreign university students will be quarantined for 2 weeks if they are able to make the necessary arrangement to come into the country with the closure of borders directive still in place.

Schools reopening

Schools have been reopened effective 15th June for only final year students of Junior High, Senior High and Universities.

"Indeed, final year university students are to report to their universities on 15th June; final year senior high school (SHS 3) students, together with SHS 2 Gold Track students, on 22nd June; and final-year junior high school (JHS 3) students on 29th June."

"JHS 3 classes will comprise a maximum of thirty (30) students; SHS classes a maximum of twenty-five (25) students, and University lectures will take place with half the class sizes," according to President Akufo-Addo.

Colleges of Education are also to reopen on the 15th of June for final year students to complete their exit examinations, he added.

Meanwhile, before the re-opening of schools and universities, the Ministry of Education, and the heads of public and private educational institutions, have been directed to fumigate and disinfect their institutions.

"Each student, teacher, and nonteaching staff will be provided with re-usable face masks by the Ministry of Education. For the avoidance of doubt, all other educational facilities, private and public, for non-final year students, will remain closed.