Govt considers re-opening lower classes

EDUCATION|SCHOOLS|LOWER CLASSES

KAMPALA - The Government will re-inspect all schools in the country in a month's time as part of the preparations to re-open the non-candidate classes.

This was revealed on Wednesday (October 28, 2020) by the education ministry's permanent secretary, Alex Kakooza, during a press briefing at the Uganda Media Centre.

"We are confident that there will be no dead year for any student. We have had a good start for candidates, who are now preparing for their final examinations. After we have ascertained that it is safe, we will open for the other noncandidate classes," Kakooza said.

All schools were closed in March to stop the spread of COVID-19. They were partially re-opened on October 15 to allow students in candidate classes to resume studies.

Kakooza said: "The reinspections will help us ascertain whether the schools can provide a good learning environment and that the pandemic is also being contained. We will also get assurance and more guidance from scientists before allowing more students to go back to school."

He was optimistic that many more schools will keep improving and meeting the required standard operating procedures (SOPs). 

Kakooza told journalists that following the re-opening for the candidate classes and other finalists, inspection of schools showed that 85% of them were found compliant with SOPs.

The latest school inspection report from the education ministry shows that 18,533 out of 21,817 schools which were inspected have been cleared to reopen.

There are also 1,950 (9%) schools that have been asked to improve and will be re-inspected later for adherence.

The non-compliant institutions are 1,334 (06%) in the country. Kakooza also noted that the Government has already sent masks to 130 districts, out of the 146 districts in the country.

He re-iterated that digital homework for learners will be followed with printed homework. The Government has already secured sh54b from the Global Partnership for Education, through the World Bank, for this initiative.

Kakooza also said the Government is in the final stages of delivering the radios to homes.

Kakooza addressed journalists shortly after appearing before the budget committee of Parliament to defend the proposed procurement of the radios.

But members of the committee declined to approve the proposal, demanding that the ministry first carries out a needs assessment.

The First Lady and education minister, Mrs Janet Museveni, in an interview with New Vision last month, also hinted at the re-opening for other classes.

She explained that the students in continuing classes will, for now, keep revising; using live and recorded materials on the broadcast stations, recorded messages on online platforms, and the printed materials.

She added: "When we have ascertained that it is safer and possible to get all the students back at school, they will report and get assessed by their teachers on what they have learnt while at home; which will form the basis for their promotion to the next class," she explained.

UNEB registration

At the media centre briefing, Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) principal examinations officer (primary), Rose Nabukenya, explained that there will be no extension for registration for candidates, after the process is closed on November 20; except for the new 157 Primary Leaving Examinations and 100 secondary national examination centres.

She warned candidates and schools, saying: "There will be no late registration this year, unlike the previous years."

Kakooza further warned schools against hiking registration fees.

"Whoever does so risks being prosecuted in the courts of law. It is illegal and we encourage parents to report to us and we take action."

According to UNEB, pupils in Primary Seven will pay sh34,000, those in Senior Four will pay sh164,000 and students in Senior Six will pay sh186,000.