In a meeting with the State Minister for Higher Education Hon John Chrysostom Muyingo, Members of Parliament (MPs) on the National Economy Committee appealed for the cancellation of the 2020 academic year.
The MPs say that it is not reasonable to re-open schools for the continuation of the academic year to operate with the burden of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that were put in place by the Ministry of Health to reduce spread of coronavirus.
The Committee chairperson Hajjati Syda Bbumba stated that the SOPs are likely to burden the schools with extra costs that will hinder their operations.
Hon Bernard Atiku, the MP Ayivu County, criticized the Ministry for keeping the nation on waiting for the re-opening of schools. He advised that it would be better to declare 2020 as a dead academic year for schools to ensure safety of learners and their instructors from getting infected with the virus.
The Director of Basic and Secondary Education, in the Ministry of Education, Mr. Ismael Mulindwa told the committee that the schools would reopen in phases starting with candidate classes as soon as the ministry observes how learning can be allowed to continue under the new SOPs.
Hon. Muyingo cleared that the Ministry of Education was ready to re-open schools as long as the Ministry of Health gives them permission.
It should be recalled that this the second time for members of parliament to advice government to declare 2020 as a dead academic year for all learners due to coronavirus pandemic.
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