UNICEF Ghana Supports Schools as Pupils Return to the Classroom

UNICEF Ghana Supports schools on ‘My First Day at School’ held on 19th January 2021. UNICEF, also known as the United Nations Children’s Fund, supported learners with essentials for a smooth takeoff.

On the day, UNICEF Ghana joined the Ghana Education Service and the Ghana Health Service for the programme.

The Director-General of Ghana Health Service, Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, lead the team of Directors to join their counterparts from the Ministry of Education, Ghana Education Service, and UNICEF to pay a high-level monitoring visit to selected schools in Accra Metro.

UNICEF Supports Schools: What is ‘My First Day at School’?

Every new academic year, Ghana celebrates ‘My First Day at School’ to welcome all newly admitted learners who are starting school as KG1-P1 pupils. 

Schools have been closed for many learners from KG1 to Basic 6 for 10 months. According to UNICEF, they are excited about the reopening of schools.

They visited three schools and presented some stationeries to learners as well as UNICEF customized UNICEF provided handwashing facilities. Other items donated to assist the safe reopening of schools included sanitizers, thermometers, masks & stationery.

The United Nations Children’s Fund in a Tweet sighted by Ghanaeducation.org said, ” We are supporting safe reopening efforts. With thanks to partners, UNICEF provided handwashing facilities, sanitizers, thermometers, masks & stationery.

Ten (10) year old Mariatu was one of the beneficiaries in one of the schools visited by the UNICEF Ghana team.

The little girl revealed she wanted to become a lawyer in the future; she was happy to be back at school and to see her friends. Mariatu whiles sharing her knowledge on COVID-19 said: 

“It’s difficult wearing a mask, but I understand it helps protect us from #COVID19.

If I see my friends not wearing a mask, I’ll tell them it’s risky.” 

The UNICEF Ghana Supports for schools follows the announcement and subsequent reopening of schools in Ghana.

The president of Ghana, Nana Akuffo Addo in his 21st Address to the Nation on the measure taken on COVID-19, announced the reopening of schools.

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The announcement was greeted with excitement by schools, teachers, and learners.

Whiles Universities and other tertiary institutions reopened on 9th January Basic, and Second cycle schools reopened on 15th January. A communique from the Ghana Education Service directed that ‘My First Day at School’ should be held on 19th January.

JHS students are expected to run semester programmes, SHS2 Gold track and SHS3 students are in school. Their SHS1 and SHS2 Gold track students will report to school on 10th March 2021..

Source: Ghanaeducation.org