How government plans to re-open schools

After receiving a report from the education ministry on the preparedness of education institutions to resume operations, the cabinet agreed that they be re-opened but in a phased manner.

However, according to government spokesperson Ofwono Opondo, pre-primary schools won't be re-opened as learners in this category "can't observe the SOPs and are prone to respiratory infections, including Covid-19".

Additionally, officials observed, most pre-primary schools are day, implying a lot of interface between the learner, teachers, and parents hence increasing the risk of infection.

According to the cabinet, once PLE and UCE are completed on March 21 and April 6 respectively, there will be more space in schools when candidates leave.

Ministers agreed that promotion to the next class "be based on attendance and continuous assessment of classwork and assignments".

Before schools are re-opened, officials from the ministry of education and sports and that of health will undertake a countrywide tour of schools and institutions to ascertain their preparedness to reopen for non-candidate classes.

The government has tasked experts to continuously review SOPs and update them based on the trend of the pandemic.

It is not yet clear will re-open but the president said they would resume in at least three months. He said this toward the end of January.

Uganda has so far confirmed 39,606 cases of Covid-19, registered 325 deaths, and 14229 recoveries.