Cabinet makes recommendations for schools reopening

By Our Correspondent

Dennis Katungi has told journalists at Media Centre that cabinet made the recommendations for reopening of Education Institutions to Non-C andidate Learners during the COVID-19 Pandemic period as follows:

(i) That the Education Institutions be allowed to open for non-candidate classes in a staggered manner that will ensure compliance with COVID 19 Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and safety.

(ii) That the pre-primary schools should not be re-opened because learners in this category cannot observe the SOPs and are prone to respiratory infections including COVID-19 and in addition, most of the pre-primary schools are day and therefore, there is a lot of interface between the Learners, Teachers and Parents hence increasing the risk of infection.

(iii) The Leadership of the Ministries of: Education and Sports; and Health will undertake a countrywide tour of schools and Institutions to ascertain their preparedness to reopen for non-candidate classes.

(iv) In order to complete the academic year and ensure progression, the semi-candidate classes (P6, S3 and S5) should report back to school in the short term and study (in shifts where necessary) with the Candidate classes.

(v) Given that PLE will be completed on 31st March, 2021 and UCE on 6th April, 2021, there will be more space in schools, when candidates leave, to enable the other classes report back and study to complement home schooling.

(vi) For the classes studying in shifts, Teachers will be guided to work through the home-schooling materials with a view of explaining and clarifying concepts and correcting self-study work done by Learners at home.

(vii) Promotion to the next class will be based on attendance and continuous assessment of class work and assignments.

(viii) The Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Institutions, Primary Teachers’ Colleges (PTCs) and National Teachers’ Colleges (NTCs) should also open in the short term provided they are able to observe the SOPs.

(ix) Primary Teachers’ Colleges and National Teachers’ Colleges have the infrastructure capacity for the number of students enrolled to observe the social distancing requirement.