Summary Of Results From IFEST’s Tracking Of Reopening Of Schools: Views Of Teachers And Students

The Institute for Education Studies elected itself to assiduously track the views of relevant stakeholders on issues relating to the reopening of schools, the provisions of relevant PPEs and other related matters during this period of COVID-19.

Our first study focused on the perception of relevant stakeholders on the possibility of reopening of schools. The findings of the report were duly published on our website, media platforms, and shared extensively among the stakeholders in the education sector.

This study which is the second on our research agenda dubbed “Education in the midst of a pandemic” focused on tracking the provision of PPEs to schools, challenges being faced by students and teachers on campus in relation to implementing the relevant health protocols and to ascertain if there is a need to shut down the schools in the midst of the perceived challenges.

IFEST for the past two weeks (1st – 14th July 2020) has monitored and collected data from 1245 respondents comprising (513 teachers and 732 students from Basic and SHS levels) from 80 districts across 13 regions in the country. The selection of respondents was done accidentally.

The summary of the results is presented below.

1. 78% of the respondents are satisfied with the provision of the relevant PPEs to the schools. These are respondents who answered YES to questions pertaining to the provision of veronica buckets, nose masks, hand sanitizers and thermometer guns.
2. 22% indicated that they have still not received the full complement of the relevant PPEs. Respondents in districts such as Kasena Nankane, Sekyere Kumawu, Ekumfi, Talensi, Awutu Breku, Awutu Senya East, Boso indicated that they do not have the full complement of their PPEs.
3. 67% of the respondents indicated that, they have been able to implement the 25/30 students in a class policy. However, 33% mentioned that they have not been able to do so and indicated that there seems to be congestion. Again, in relation to the practice of social distancing on campus, 51% mentioned that they have not been able to implement the social distancing protocols on campus.
4. 42% mentioned that they were oblivious of what to do when there is a possible incidence of a case of Covid-19 on campus. Respondents from districts such as Ejisu, Juaben, Ekumfi, Bosome Freho, Talensi, Ahafo-Ano South West, Atwima Nwabiagya, Awutu-Senya East etc. indicated that they were unaware whether their schools have been linked to a health facility.
5. Some of the challenges encountered since the reopening of schools included:
   1. Students not adhering to the health protocols during break time, in their dormitory and after closing.
   2. Lack of accommodation for day students
   3. Congestion in some dormitories as a result of the gold-track students on campus.
   4. Inadequate source of water for students’ usage on campus.
   5. Students refusing to disclose their health status to friends and teachers for the fear of being tagged as an example of a Covid-19 case.
   6. Staff room always full due to the directive by certain heads and directors of education at the district level, that each teacher in the school should be present always (this was prominent among the Basic school teachers)
   7. Continuous use of school premises by external people
   8. Insufficiency of the PPEs provided
   1. BECE candidates’ inability to fully appreciate the indoor break system.

   In relation to whether respondents STILL SUPPORT or DO NOT SUPPORT the decision to partially reopen schools, 69.3% out of the 732 students indicated that, they STILL SUPPORT the reopening of the schools despite the challenges, 26.4% mentioned that they wish the schools will be closed down while 4.3% said they were indifferent. The major reason given by the students was that, they needed to finish their education. For the WASSCE candidates, some indicated that their parents have already purchased their admission forms for entry into the university.

   For the teachers, it was a split decision since 52.1% indicated that the schools should be closed while 47.9% otherwise.