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The Ghana National Association of Private Schools (GNAPS) has expressed satisfaction with the new directives announced by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as part of measures taken to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Association said the directives so far were in line with the proposals presented to the government.

Mr Kyei Baffuor, Public Relationship Officer of the GNAPS in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, said “We had already presented a proposal and the content of the proposal is exactly what the President has come out with – the timing and the format.”

He said the Association was of the view that the current directive would allow educational activities to go on while at the same time help to fight the pandemic.

He said the school authorities would be able to handle the few numbers of students to ensure they observe the safety protocols.

Mr Baffuor said they were still dialoguing to know if the Private Schools would benefit from the government's nose mask distribution but was quick to add that they were not left out in the disinfection of schools.

He said, however, the Association had communicated to parents to supply their wards with face masks and pocket-size sanitizers when returning to school.

The schools will also install Veronica buckets to ensure regular handwashing.

He said the Private Schools would do their best to ensure the measures were adequately adhered to.

President Akufo-Addo on Sunday, in his address to the nation on updates to Ghana’s enhanced response to the coronavirus pandemic, eased the ban on public gathering to among others, allow for the partial resumption of academic activities.

The categories of students announced by the President to resume academic work include final year university students; final year senior high school (SHS), together with SHS 2 Gold Track students; and final-year junior high school (JHS 3).

The President said all final year students of educational and training institutions, which are being managed by Ministries other than the Education Ministry, are to return to school on June 15 to complete their exit examinations.

He said all other educational facilities, private and public, for non-final year students, would remain closed.