Government has roped in private schools in its processes to restart educational institutions amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.

As part of measures instituted as pupils prepare to go back to the classroom, Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES) explained that the government, apart from fumigating, provision of hygiene materials, further provided Personal Protective Equipment for public schools.

Following this revelation, some stakeholders including a section within the private school space have lamented what they believe is a decision that would have more appreciated if time was provided for them to put in place the adequate structures to facilitate the resumption.

However, speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express, Prof Kwasi Opoku-Amankwa indicated that the gesture will be extended to private schools.

"The disinfection programme captures them (Private schools). They all get Veronica buckets, tissue papers, thermometre guns, sanitisers and the facemasks that the government provides," he said Monday.

He justified that its necessary to expand the scope to encapsulate the private operators because "it has to do with health and the implication of the Covid.

"Once a person is affected, the Covid doesn't know whether you are a private school student or a public school student. If you have it, you could be spreading it to any other person."

According to him, "the government feels that if we don't do that and anything happens, the consequences may be more expensive than if we had done it."

GES on Monday morning also released a new academic calendar for 2020/21 from Kindergarten to second-cycle level.

In his 21^st address to the nation on the Covid-19 pandemic, President Akufo-Addo announced that all students from kindergarten to Junior High School will return to school on January 15.

According to him, the government has drawn lessons from the reopening of some sections of educational institutions in 2020, thus, it is in a better position to commence a new school year.

“Our children must go to school, albeit safely, and we are satisfied that, in the current circumstances, the re-opening of our schools is safe,” he said.