59% of schools cleared to open

EDUCATION 

About two-thirds of the 22,500 schools which already been inspected by the education ministry and the local governments and are expected to reopen today; according to the preliminary reports, obtained by New Vision.

About 10% of the 25,000 primary and secondary schools, with candidate classes in the country schools in the country, have not yet been inspected.

However, the education ministry's director of basic and secondary education, Hajj. Ismael Mulindwa and the commissioner for secondary education standards, Kule Baritazale by yesterday (Wednesday, 14 October, 2020)   evening, confirmed that at least 90% (22,500 schools) of the country schools had already been inspected.

Kule, who is coordinating the inspections explained that the entire Northern Uganda, North-Eastern and Eastern districts have all been covered.

He added, "It is only in Central where some schools in Wakiso and Kampala have not yet been inspected, and in Western Uganda, where Ntungamo and Kyenjojo have not yet been also fully covered.

He explained, "But by Saturday, all schools in the country, should be covered."

The Director of the Directorate of Education Standards, Dr Kedrace Turyagyenda, added that, "Of the schools already inspected by the education ministry by Wednesday evening, "Two-thirds (66% or 14,800 schools) do meet the Standard Operating Standards and have already been cleared to open."

She added, "The other one-third (33% or 7,425) are scored between 50% to 59% and have been given another one week, to improve."

She explained, that in every district, on average 1% of their schools will not be re-opened since they failed to set up the required SOPs.

Dr Turyagyenda explained that a school needs to have at least 60% of the score for the set SOPs to be cleared to open.

"Schools that will have scored 50% - 59% can be allowed to put in place what is required within one week. We were very strict, to ensure that our children are safe. Even if the school had scored 60% and above and has not scored a full scale of two in each of the indicators under hand washing hygiene and Social distancing, it will not be permitted to open," she explained.

She also noted that the inspectors were impressed to find that 100% of the schools in Karamoja meet the set SOPs. When asked to explain, she said, "These schools were supported by non-government organisations to meet the set SOPs, and we really commend them for the support they have given the country."

More so, the state minister for higher education Dr Chrysostom Muyingo, thanked the team of inspectors, "For the tough work they have done to ensure that we know the status of the country's schools in this COVID-19 era, as our children return to school.

"It is good to know that most schools meet the set SOPs. But we need to have the other 33% come up to the set standard. To parents, this should be good re-assurance to the parents, as I noted in my opinion piece to New Vision published Wednesday, that Government is committed to protecting our children. Now we ask the parents and teachers to play their part as schools open."

Genesis to inspections

Last week, the permanent secretary of the local government ministry Ben Kumumanya his September 28, 2020 letter to all Chief Administrative Officers and Town Clerks, wrote saying, "As part of the steps to ensure compliance with the (Presidential Pronouncement on opening schools), Government has to carry out inspections to establish the readiness and compliance of schools with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

He explained, "This will be before October 15, 2020; which is the scheduled date for the reopening of schools for candidates and finalists," reads the letter. 

Kumumanya added, "In the above exercise, the ministry will work with the Directorate of Education Standards and the District Taskforces to inspect all the schools and institutions, to confirm the status."

He added, "This will lead to the issuance of Certificates of Compliance by the ministry of education and sports, to all those schools and academic institutions that meet the basic requirements and minimum standards in line with the SOPs and Guidelines as issued by Government."

He went ahead to instruct all the CAOs and town clerks to use the funds that had been sent to them to start off with the inspections.

Closure, re-opening process

All schools were closed by President Yoweri Museveni, to stop the spread of COVID-19 in the country. After six months, a couple of weeks ago, Museveni ordered for the reopening, in a phased manner, starting with the candidates and finalists in all educational institutions.

The President allowed schools and churches to reopen, on condition that they follow, the set SOPs.  Schools are expected to open, starting with candidate classes and finalists. Kakooza explained that the finalists, include those in all tertiary institutions, universities and the other tertiary and vocational institutions.

President Museveni noted that all the 1.2 million learners, in the first phase of the reopening of the schools, are supposed to follow set SOPs. He added, "If they (students) follow the SOPs, they will be safe."