General Secretary for the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Thomas Musah has said the reopening of schools in January is a step in the right direction.

According to him, the association is in full support of the president’s decision as there’s no better time than the set month.

“Going to school in January is one of the things that we think has come at the right time.”

President Akufo-Addo on Sunday in his 21st update on measures aimed at easing Covid-19 restrictions announced that all students from Kindergarten to Junior High School level will return to school on January 15.

Following the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in the country, schools were shut in March 2020, among other measures to prevent the spread of the virus.

Gradually, the president announced the easing of restrictions leaving out the reopening of Kindergarten to Junior High Schools in the country which has lasted for about ten months.

Speaking on PM Express with Evans Mensah on JoyNews Monday, GNAT General Secretary said most children may have forgotten all they learnt in school as a result of the long stay at home.

“So we have some kind of deficit of learning already to cover,” he indicated.

He said although the closure of schools to necessary to help curtail the spread of the virus, there is a need to reopen the schools to avoid further delays in education.

“What is going to happen is that instead of them to go to school at age four, we will have children going to school at age 5 and 6"

“And learning of concept is better done at an earlier stage like age 4 as it has been our educational age of going to school than anything,” he added.

Mr Musah further observed that the closure of schools caused by covid-19 has also increased teenage pregnancies in the country.

“In one of the districts, between March and May 2020, we have 51 girls pregnant."

He also hinted that his observation from the Ghana Living Survey in 2014/15 indicates that the country could also face another challenge of child labour.

“We are told that out of five children you see, you have one is into child labour.

“We are talking of about 21.8 per cent of the children were into child labour and that is also disturbing.”