COVID-19 score: Only schools with over 60% to open

The education ministry has released the scorecard strategy that will be used to determine whether an academic institution is allowed to reopen or not.

According to the ministry, a countrywide inspection of schools commences today.

Schools that score below 50% will not be allowed to open and parents will be advised to transfer the learners to other schools that meet the requirements.

According to the inspection guidelines, only schools that will score 60% and above, will be allowed to reopen.

In addition, the guidelines say schools that would have scored between 50% and 59%, will be given one week to put in place the critical facilities before they reopen.

"Even if the school has scored 60% and above and has not scored a full scale of 2 in each of the indicators under hand-washing hygiene and social distancing, it will not be given permission to open," the inspection guidelines read.

In addition, a maximum number of learners will be indicated for each school in the recommendations and schools will not be allowed to admit more than the established capacity.

Dr Kedrace Turyagyenda, the head of the Directorate of Education Standards (DES) at the line ministry, said the accounting officers at the local government level will be the overall overseers of the exercise and facilitate officers in their respective areas.

Benson Kule Baritazale, the commissioner in charge of secondary education standards, said they have deployed about 500 education inspectors who will be working alongside the district local governments, to conduct the inspection.

"We have a big team. We will go school per school. This is also an opportunity to know which schools are operating illegally. We, therefore, ask them to present the legal documents on ownership and licensing," he said.

He also warned schools against hiring equipment to obtain the score, saying those caught will not be allowed to reopen.

"We will also be monitoring officers who will be awarding marks for the sake of money. We are prepared for everything. Such officers will face disciplinary action," he said.

What to look out for

According to DES, only academic institutions that will meet the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) will be issued a certificate of compliance.

Any school without the certificate of compliance will not be allowed to operate.

According to inspection guidelines, for a school to obtain a certificate of compliance, they will be required to have a fence or any other demarcated school boundary, which serves as a barrier from intruders.

In addition, the inspectors will be looking out for the existence of personal protection gear for school guards at the gate and other staff.

The other facilities to be considered include cleanliness of compounds and all school infrastructure and display of the COVID-19 preventive messages in strategic places.

The inspectors will also look out for evidence of safe garbage and waste disposal management practices, not only for rubbish but also wastewater, after washing hands. All schools are required to have soak pits.

For the guards, the inspection guidelines indicate that they must have undergone training and they will be required to work 24 hours.

In addition, schools will be required to have adequate toilet or latrines for learners with a ratio of 1:56.

The inspectors will also look out for evidence of good ventilation and lighting, adequate facilities for teachers' workplace, including staffroom, regular disinfection of surfaces, and walls of relevant facilities.

Schools will be required to operate either as boarding or day, but not both. For boarding schools, the guidelines say, one bed per student, and they should be two metres apart.

Schools will also be required to show evidence of a qualified health worker in place, either permanent or on part-time basis.

Although the Uganda National Association of Private Schools and Institutions has expressed optimism that their members would implement the conditions, however tight, a cross-section of both private and government-aided schools' officials are pessimistic.

A headteacher a government-aided school asked the ministry to guide on how schools should divert the "meagre capitation grants" to buying temperature guns, PPEs and other materials required to meet the guidelines.