Coronavirus: Gambia’s schools to re-open after six-month closure
Banjul, Gambia (PANA)_ Schools in Gambia will reopened for grades 7 to 12 on October 14 after six months of closure due to the coronavirus pandemic, as parents weighed whether it was safe for children to resume lessons.
Children attending nursery up to grade 6 will go back to school on October 28.
Gambian Minister of Basic and Secondary Education, Claudiana A. Cole, made the announcement on Wednesday, saying the sixth educational regions last week conducted a two-day sensitisation training for itinerant teachers, regional Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) members, communities and some staff from the Regional Education Directorates on how Ministry of Health and World Health Organization (WHO) protocols should be adopted within schools and communities.
Schools shuttered in the West African nation in March after the first coronavirus case was detected. Face masks and hand washing have been made compulsory in schools across the country, where 3,613 coronavirus cases with 117 deaths and 2,233 have been officially registered.
“We also organised step-down sensitisation training for our Cluster Monitors including Senior Management Committee chairmen, Mother’s Club Presidents, headteachers from each school and students so that when schools reopen they can observe Covid-19 precaution measures within their schools and in the communities”, Principal Education Officer, Region Six, Mr. Janko Jawneh told PANA.
“The normal school assembly has been suspended to reduce the gathering of school children and we encourage our pupils — if they feel sick — they should stay at home or visit the nearest health centre,” he said.
-0- PANA MSS/AR 7Oct2020
