Ugandan schools will finally reopen next month (September) after almost three months of closure occasioned by the Covid19 pandemic’s second wave of infections.
The decision to reopen was reached on August 30 following a meeting between top officials at Janet Museveni’s education and sports and Officials from the first lady Janet Museveni-led docket are expected to present a reopening plan, guidelines and dates to education secretaries of schools foundation bodies, Federation of Non-State Education Institutions in Uganda, Proprietors of Private Education Institutions Association, Uganda National Teachers Union (Unatu), Uganda Private Schools Teachers Union, Coalition of Uganda Private Schools Teachers Association and National Private Schools Teachers Association.
And president Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni has insisted on mass vaccination of teachers and learners as a condition for reopening.
The ministry has intensified efforts to mobilize school teachers and students to go for Covid19 vaccine jabs.
On August 27, education ministry permanent secretary Ketty Lamaro invited these education unions to a “virtual consultative meeting on government proposals for reopening of education institutions for completion of academic year 2020.’
During the stakeholders consultative meeting, officials at the education ministry presented government’s proposal on safe reopening of education institutions for completion of academic year 2020 and progression of learners to the next level.
Education bodies agreed to rally school heads, teachers, non-teaching staff and students aged 18 to take Covid19 jabs.
The reopening plan includes allowing a few classes back to school to allow physical social distancing, surveillance and, generally, observance of Standard Operating Procedures.
Schools are expected to reopen next month, according to sources that attended the meeting.
Janet Museveni and President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni are expected to make an official announcement on a full reopening plan in coming days.
