COVID-19: Government will not provide free materials - Wakiso DEO

Oct 08, 2020

The remarks followed demands from some school headteachers that Government should help and provide them COVID-19 materials.

EDUCATION|COVID-19|DEO|SCHOOLS

WAKISO - The Wakiso District Education Officer (DEO), Frederick Kiyingi, has said the Government will not provide free equipment to private schools that is required to control the spread of COVID-19 as schools re-open.

The schools are supposed to adhere to the health ministry standard operating procedures (SOPs) for them to be allowed to reopen.

Kiyingi made the revelation while meeting headteachers and directors of secondary schools in Wakiso district on Tuesday at WAKISSHA resource centre in Wakiso town council.

The meeting was intended to brief headteachers on the SOPs, schools need to put in place in order to reopen.

"We have given you the list of the things you need to have in your schools that will enable you to re-open. We are going to inspect your schools and if we do not find them in place, you will not be allowed to re-open," Kiyingi said.

His remarks followed demands from some school headteachers that the Government should help and provide things like temperature guns and handwashing equipment to private schools since they have not been working.

Wilber Shaka from Wakiso Hill Secondary School Maya said the items needed are expensive, yet there are many other things that the Government needs fixed before schools re-open.

It should also be noted that parents will be required to clear the fees for term one as they take back their children on October 15, according to Kiyingi.

He said all schools needed to be fenced and remain with only one gate to regulate the entry and exist of visitors, adding that part-time teachers will not be allowed.

Wakiso district LC5 chairperson Matia Lwanga Bwanika appealed to headteachers in private schools to comply and put the required items in place.

Bwanika noted that good feeding is one of the ways to fight COVID-19 and called on headteachers and school directors to feed children on balanced diet.

He slammed the Government for making Entebbe Hospital a referral hospital, yet it was the only government hospital in Wakiso district.

Bwanika said they had agreed with the health ministry that the Government would first build another hospital for the district before taking over Entebbe Hospital.

The Wakiso chief administrative officer, Godfrey Kuruhira, said the district has already secured money for buying the required items for government-aided schools.

Guidelines

Hand-washing utensils must be placed in strategic points such as toilets, school canteen, dormitories, kitchen and entrance of the school.

The dormitories and libraries must be sprayed frequently and schools need to have COVID-19 committees.

Schools will be required to display COVID-19 messages.

Schools need to ensure social distancing both in classes and dormitories.

Schools must have a full-time qualified nurse.

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