• Latest
Surging COVID-19 Cases Threaten Full Reopening of Schools

Surging COVID-19 Cases Threaten Full Reopening of Schools

May 26, 2021
Commonwealth Games 2022: Team Uganda Launched as Gov’t Sets Aside Shs7.1bn for Athletes

Commonwealth Games 2022: Team Uganda Launched as Gov’t Sets Aside Shs7.1bn for Athletes

May 20, 2022
Sheebah Named West Lake Water Brand Ambassador

Sheebah Named West Lake Water Brand Ambassador

May 20, 2022
Uganda Economy Grew by 3.8% Despite Covid Impact – Budget Committee

Uganda Economy Grew by 3.8% Despite Covid Impact – Budget Committee

May 20, 2022
Stanbic Bank Commits Shs100m Towards National Tree Planting

Stanbic Bank Commits Shs100m Towards National Tree Planting

May 20, 2022
Kadaga Nominated to be Among Selection Board for Cremer-Passey Prize

Kadaga Nominated to be Among Selection Board for Cremer-Passey Prize

May 20, 2022
72nd Makerere Graduation: Muhumuza Julia Emerges Best MUBS Student

72nd Makerere Graduation: Muhumuza Julia Emerges Best MUBS Student

May 20, 2022
Pictorial: Museveni Flags off Uganda’s First Marine Ambulances

Pictorial: Museveni Flags off Uganda’s First Marine Ambulances

May 20, 2022
Parliament Passes Shs48.1trillion Budget for Financial Year 2022/23

Parliament Passes Shs48.1trillion Budget for Financial Year 2022/23

May 20, 2022
Link Bus Ambushed, Passengers Robbed on Gunpoint

Link Bus Ambushed, Passengers Robbed on Gunpoint

May 20, 2022
Plans Underway to Develop Jinja as Gateway Tourism City

Plans Underway to Develop Jinja as Gateway Tourism City

May 20, 2022
UBTS Seeks Law to Punish Persons Selling Blood

UBTS Seeks Law to Punish Persons Selling Blood

May 20, 2022
Parliament Approves Shs153bn for UPDF Operations in DR Congo, Karamoja

Parliament Approves Shs153bn for UPDF Operations in DR Congo, Karamoja

May 20, 2022
SoftPower News
Saturday, May 21, 2022
  • News
  • Tourism & Travel
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
    • Fashion
  • Regional
    • Kenya
    • Rwanda
    • Tanzania
    • Burundi
    • South Sudan
    • DR Congo
  • Defence & Security
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • More
    • Agriculture
    • Africa
    • Columnists
    • Education
    • Health
      • COVID-19
    • International News
    • News in Pictures
    • OpEd
    • Pearl Of Africa
    • People
    • Politics
    • Special Reports
    • Women
No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Tourism & Travel
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
    • Fashion
  • Regional
    • Kenya
    • Rwanda
    • Tanzania
    • Burundi
    • South Sudan
    • DR Congo
  • Defence & Security
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • More
    • Agriculture
    • Africa
    • Columnists
    • Education
    • Health
      • COVID-19
    • International News
    • News in Pictures
    • OpEd
    • Pearl Of Africa
    • People
    • Politics
    • Special Reports
    • Women
No Result
View All Result
SoftPower News
No Result
View All Result

Surging COVID-19 Cases Threaten Full Reopening of Schools

According to the revised school calendar, the Ministry of Education and Sports had projected that schools at all levels will reopen for all learners in the new academic year scheduled to start on August 9 this year.

by Our Reporter
May 26, 2021
Surging COVID-19 Cases Threaten Full Reopening of Schools

Teachers prefer face shields to masks 2

  • Facebook
  • Tweet
  • WhatsApp
  • Telegram
  • Email

The surging numbers of COVID-19 infections threaten the full reopening of schools and other educational institutions. Uganda has entered the second wave of COVID-19 infections. This coincides with the government’s plan to fully reopen schools and other educational institutions across the country.

Since October last year, schools have been reopening in a staggered manner with a few learners to allow for physical distancing and implementation of the Standard Operating Procedures-SOPs to avoid COVID-19 infection. According to the revised school calendar, the Ministry of Education and Sports had projected that schools at all levels will reopen for all learners in the new academic year scheduled to start on August 9 this year.

However, Dr. Monica Musenero, the Presidential Advisor on Epidemics, says that with the increasing number of COVID-19 cases that have not spared young people, the last thing being considered is the full operationalization of educational institutions. “With the number of Covid19 cases with wards filling up, the last thing that should be considered now is the full reopening of schools. The level of complacency is high and we cannot take the risk,” says Dr. Musenero.

Dr. Musenero, who is also a member of the National COVID-19 task force, says that unless there is proof that schools will adhere to the set Standard Operating Procedures chances of full reopening are becoming slim. Although schools have tried to enforce the wearing of face masks and hand washing, most of them have been struggling with availing space even for the few learners who have been attending class in a staggered manner.

This makes it very difficult for schools to keep their normal enrollment and still maintain the social distancing. Besides the fear of infections among children, many teachers have also shunned the Covid-19 vaccination, which is one of the means that the ministry thought could limit transmission of the virus when schools fully reopen. However, available statistics indicate that by May 18, only 42,000 out of the targeted 550,000 teachers and non-teaching staff had been vaccinated.

Ismail Mulindwa, the Director of Basic Education who also doubles as the chairperson of the Covid-19 Education Response Committee is worried that the sector might get back on its knees. “We are praying that the worst doesn’t happen. We are still appealing to teachers to go for vaccination and tightening Standard Operating Procedures in our schools,” says Mulindwa. He, however, notes that the education ministry is still focused on implementing the school calendar as designed.

Last year, millions of children couldn’t attend classes due to the COVID-19 induced lockdown, which forced the government to close all educational institutions. The lockdown has wreaked havoc on the education sector and likely to worsen the already waning learning outcomes. URN

Post Views: 71
  • Facebook
  • Tweet
  • WhatsApp
  • Telegram
  • Email
Tags: COVID19COVID19 pandemicDiana AtwiineSoftPower NewsUganda
Leave Comment

Recent Stories

Commonwealth Games 2022: Team Uganda Launched as Gov’t Sets Aside Shs7.1bn for Athletes

Sheebah Named West Lake Water Brand Ambassador

Uganda Economy Grew by 3.8% Despite Covid Impact – Budget Committee

Stanbic Bank Commits Shs100m Towards National Tree Planting

Kadaga Nominated to be Among Selection Board for Cremer-Passey Prize

72nd Makerere Graduation: Muhumuza Julia Emerges Best MUBS Student

SoftPower News

SoftPower News is a subsidiary of SoftPower Communications LLC, a Ugandan digital media group. Keep posted of the latest from Uganda and East Africa.
Plot 4B Malcolm X, Kololo
P.O Box 1497, Kampala - Uganda
Tel: +256-392-001-701
Email: info@softpower.ug

This news site is licenced by Uganda Communications Commission (UCC)

ADVERTISEMENT
  • News
  • Tourism & Travel
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
  • Regional
  • Defence & Security
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • More

© SoftPower News

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Tourism & Travel
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
    • Fashion
  • Regional
    • Kenya
    • Rwanda
    • Tanzania
    • Burundi
    • South Sudan
    • DR Congo
  • Defence & Security
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • More
    • Agriculture
    • Africa
    • Columnists
    • Education
    • Health
      • COVID-19
    • International News
    • News in Pictures
    • OpEd
    • Pearl Of Africa
    • People
    • Politics
    • Special Reports
    • Women

© SoftPower News

error: Content is protected

Send this to a friend