Reopening tertiary institutions was a good decision – Prof Gyapong

Vice-Chancellor for the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) believes the president’s decision to reopen tertiary schools amid a second wave of Covid-19 was a good decision.

Speaking on The Probe on JoyNews, Prof John Owusu Gyapong explained that it is essential life goes on and people learn to live with the virus.

“Staying at home I am not sure would have given us any different results,” he told Emefa Apawu host of the show.

Prof Gyapong added that the school has an advantage because students are on campuses obeying all the needed safety protocols.

Thus, the tertiary institutions help minimise the level of contact for students, he added.

“It is known that even when you wear the nose mask and all that there is limited risk that one could still get infected. But if we are able to keep to the protocols to the best of our abilities, then we are able to minimise the level of risk.”

“So I think that it is still good to have universities and the rest of the tertiary schools open, at least from the data that I have seen so far I think it was the right thing to do.”

His comment comes after reports went out that some students in some schools have tested positive for Covid-19.

In Akosombo, it was reported that some 40 students in a school have tested positive.

Some universities, Prof Gyapong added, have also recorded cases, but, all the institutions are managing the cases well.

He added that the universities are also rolling out learning management systems to ensure that there is teaching online.

He explained that although face to face class sessions may be needed for some practicals it has been reduced drastically to ensure contact among students and lecturers are minimised.