The Minister for Education, Matthew Opoku Prempeh in an interview with Paul Adom Otchere on Good Evening Ghana Tuesday has said, government is considering the introduction of a special National Service for one year for Ghana’s Senior High School leavers if Covid-19 persists and schools remain shut for an “extended period”.
He explained that during the O-A Level periods, anytime there was an “Aluta” that disrupted the academic calendar, the government introduced National Service to cater for the disruption.
According to Matthew Opoku Prempeh, the government is keenly looking at that option should it become necessary. The Ministry is so far relying on E-Learning platforms to keep the schools running.
The West African Secondary School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE) has also been suspended across Anglophone West Africa due to the threat of COVID-19. Students have been required to vacate schools, uncertain when they will return to earn their leaving credentials.
The cancellation of the exams and the broader health and societal effects of COVID-19 are unwelcome and worrying. But the cancellation does provide an opportunity to take a closer look at the exams and make sure that when students do return they will face a fair test.
