Senior Two students to report back to school next week

EDUCATION | BACK TO SCHOOL 

KAMPALA - Senior Two students are expected to report back to school next week on May 13, two weeks ahead of the earlier scheduled reporting date of May 31.   

This is part of the changes that the education ministry is undertaking in the education calendar; as they gradually restore the country into the pre-COVID-19 education calendar.   

The education ministry’s permanent secretary, Alex Kakooza, in his May 6, 2021 letter sent to all headteachers, resident district commissioners, inspectors of schools and other leaders, said: “Considering the urgent need for recovery of lost learning time and negative impact of long absence from school on young adolescents, the Ministry of Education and Sports, in consultation with stakeholders, has brought forward the reporting date for Senior Two by about two weeks. 

“The initial school opening date for Senior Two learners was May 31, 2021. However, following the completion of Uganda Certificate Education and Uganda Advanced Certificate Education examinations by Senior Four and Senior Six respectively; more space has been created in schools to accommodate an extra class while observing the COVID-19 standard operating procedures. Instead of May 31, the Senior Two learners will now report back to school on May 13, 2021.”   

He, however, clarified that this arrangement excludes students who are from schools which are being used as marking centres by the Uganda National Examinations Board.

Such students will report with the rest of the students when they are recalled in those respective schools. 

He has also asked schools to be flexible and work with parents on better ways of paying fees, owing to the fact that this has been a quick change of reporting dates. 

“School administrators are urged to work with parents on flexible fees payment schedules, where applicable, given the short notice and the financial constraints families are going through,” Kakooza added.   

Initially, the plan was that they would resume only after the Senior Three and Five students have broken off and would study for 10 weeks and end their term on July 24. As of now, the closing of the term for Senior Two students is not yet set.   

Senior Two students are the second last batch of students who will be reporting to school in the phased reopening of schools. 

Several schools were closed in March last year to avoid the spread of COVID-19. This left many teachers and school owners jobless, without any earnings to support their livelihood.

There were about 105,210 schools and educational institutions which were affected by the closure. 

P1 TO P3 to report on June 7  

Senior Two students will be followed by the last batch of students, who will report on July 7. This includes Primary One, Two and Three on June 7.   

“Primary One, Two and Three will study for eight weeks which end on July 24,” according to the education ministry’s plan of returning to school.   

Reporting phases

According to the official re-opening plan, the sub-candidate classes of Primary Six, Senior Three and Senior Five reported on March 1, this year.

They will study for 14 weeks and break off for holidays on May 21.   

Senior One students reported to school on April 12 to study for 14 weeks, which ends on July 3.  Primary Four and Five classes started studying on April 6 after Primary Seven candidates gave way for them to join; and their term will end on June 4.