As many pupils and students keep wondering whether they will be able to return to school before the end of the year, the Ministry of Education has announced that it is hopeful schools can reopen soon.
The Minister of State for Higher Education, Hon John Chrysostom Muyingo says they are only waiting for permission from the government and Ministry of Health to reopen schools.
According to Muyingo, his Ministry has already sent a team of experts to find out how these institutions are prepared for reopening.
“We are set to start provided the Ministry of Health gives us a go ahead,”said Muyingo.
“We have a team of Education Inspectors who are in the field to find out whether our institutions are prepared so that they also contribute to the final decision whether schools will be reopened or not,” he added.
Whereas this sounds good especially to finalist students and those in candidate classes, it remains unclear when these schools are going to open. Some academicians have come out to say that allowing candidate classes to open defeats the purpose because by the time they do exams, they will not have covered the curriculum. This is because they are worried about producing half baked students all in the names of finishing the year.
Hon Muyingo however could not commit to a date for schools re-opening, saying that is up to the government and Health Ministry to decide.
It should be remembered that the president ordered all educational institutions to close on 20th March 2020 in an effort to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus.
While lockdown is being partially eased with the lifting of the ban on public and private transportation and opening of businesses downtown, a few measures remain in place including a 9pm to 5:30Am curfew.
The airport, schools, bars and places of worship have also remain closed as the government looks at the possibility of reopening them.
Whereas some countries such as neighbouring Kenya have a declared a dead year, Uganda remains optimistic to salvage the academic year.
The ministry has been promoting distance learning at home with a cocktail of educational TV shows, radio programmes, online courses and printed study materials.
Muyingo however warned Ugandans to remain vigilant and observe the set Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to avert the spread of the virus like hand washing and wearing of face masks as the virus is still upon us.
Todate, Uganda has registered 1,203 cases, 1,073 recoveries and has so far reported 5 deaths.
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