The Ministry of Education and Sports has released guidelines for reopening of schools meant to streamline reporting of students in Boarding section in Kampala, Mukono, Wakiso and Mpigi districts.
According to the guidelines released on Sunday 2nd January 2022 by Ketty Lamaro Permanent Secretary for the Education Ministry, the plan is to prevent and mitigate against road traffic congestion in the Kampala metropolitan area during Re-opening of Schools on Monday January 10th, 2022.
In his New Year's address to the nation on 31% December 2021, H.E. the President tasked the Ministry of Education and Sports to come up with a detailed plan to guide parents, learners and school administrators on this matter.
Lamaro says the Ministry engaged stakeholders from KCCA, Wakiso, Mukono, and Mpigi, district local governments, Security, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Works and Transport among others.
They agreed that all learners in Day Schools shall report on Monday the 10th of January 2022 for Classes, all learners in Boarding Schools in the districts of Wakiso, Mpigi, Mukono, and Kampala shall follow a staggered reporting plan with effect from Monday, 10th January 2022, no, Boarding Students in the concerned districts shall report for School earlier than Monday the 10th of January 2022, and students in International Schools whether offering Day or Boarding School shall also comply with re-opening that is NOT any earlier than Monday the 10th of January 2022.
In Mpigi and Wakiso Districts, A-level students and pupils in lower classes in Boarding section shall report on Monday 10th January 2022, while O-level students and pupils in p.5, p.6 and p.7 who are in Boarding shall report on Wednesday 12th January 2022.
In Kampala and Mukono Districts, A-level students and pupils in Lower Primary in Boarding shall report on Tuesday 11th January 2022, while O-Level students and pupils in P.5, P.6, and P.7 in Boarding shall report Thursday 13th January 2022.
Schools which have already communicated to parents a staggered reporting plan that goes beyond 13th January 2022 have been advised to retain such a Plan provided no learners report before Monday the 10th January 2022.
“It is the responsibility of the learner’s respective parents or guardians to ensure that the learner is provided with a mask to wear when travelling to school while using public transport means. We appeal to all concerned Boarding Schools in Kampala, Wakiso, Mukono, and Mpigi districts to adhere to this area-specific re-opening plan” Ms Lamaro added.
Learners are going back to school after two years of lockdown due to the COVID-19 that was announced by President Yoweri Museveni on March 18th 2020. While some of the children took to online classes and home schooling, those in villages have not seen a blackboard until the schools reopen on Monday next week.
