All schools have been closed in Uganda since 18 of March. Since then, the Ministry of Education and Sports put a plan in place that focuses on three main areas:
1. Continuity of learning during the closure of Institutions of Learning.
2. Preparedness for re-opening of institutions of learning when it is safe to do so.
3. Ensuring effective teaching and learning upon re-opening of the Institutions of Learning
His Excellency, the President directed that a Cabinet Sub-Committee be constituted to look into the issue of re-opening of Institutions of Learning. This Committee had representation from the other Ministries such as Health, Local Government, ICT and National Guidance, Science, Innovation and Technology. The Committee also consulted with the Technical Team of Scientists that is advising government on its response to this pandemic. After taking into consideration all the views, they resolved that the time was not yet right to have learners go back to their Institutions of Learning – not even for candidate classes as they had earlier thought. Therefore schools will remain closed throughout the month of July.
Last night the Minister of Education and Sports gave an update on the progress to date. What happens next in preparation for re-opening of schools and institutions? The Ministry of Education and Sports has received Sector-specific Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) from the Ministry of Health to guide the Ministry in determining its Sector’s readiness to re-open Institutions of Learning. The Ministry shall review these SOPs and advise Cabinet in due course.
