Education Ministry starts inspection of schools ahead of reopening next week

The Ministry of Education has started inspecting schools around the country to ensure adherence to set Standard Operating Procedures to combat the spread of Coronavirus ahead of reopening later this month.

“As we plan to reopen schools for candidates on October,15, the Ministry of Education and Sports is mindful of the safety of the learners, staff and visitors to the institutions.  The ministry through the Directorate of Education Standards has therefore organised to inspect the institutions before the learners of candidate classes report,”, a circular by the Commissioner for Secondary Education at the Ministry of Education, Kule Baritazale to school and institution heads throughout the country says.

According to the circular, the inspection that started today will be aimed at ensuring all schools and other educational institutions adhere to the set standards before being allowed to reopen on October,15.

“Institutions that will satisfy the basic requirements as indicated in the guidelines will be issued with Compliance Certificates and allowed to reopen.”

According to Baritazale, the inspection is to be carried out by officials from both the Ministry of Education and local government who will properly identify themselves to the school heads.

President Museveni last month allowed schools to reopen for candidate classes including P.7, S.4 and S.6 plus finalists in tertiary institutions like colleges and universities.

He explained that experts think it is safe for finalists to resume studies because they are only 1.5 million which represents only 10% of the total number of 15 million learners in country.

“Each group will have a bigger space for social distancing. If they follow Standard Operating Procedures, they will be safe. The cost of waiting any further is very high because of the jam of transition.”

“If the batch of 2020 don’t move on, what will happen to the batch of 2021? We can’t afford to have both in 2021. It can be done safely if people follow SOPs.”

SOPs

According to the Standard Operating Procedures released by the Ministry of Education a few weeks ago, all primary and secondary schools shall operate either day or boarding but not both whereas schools in urban centres where learners may need to use public means of transport, all of them will be registered and the mode of transport to and from school.

“Leaners who walk to school or are transported by private means may continue to do so and they may not use public means on any occasion,” the circular says.

Schools were asked to work with urban authorities to organize dedicated buses or vans on designated routes to transport learners.

Prior to reopening, schools that were acting as quarantine centres were asked to have the schools disinfected and confirmed for safe resumption of studies.

The management of education institutions must hold a staff meeting to discuss the implementation of the SOPs within the school.

There should be social distance of two metres apart, between  leaners in classrooms and dormitories whereas each class or lecture room shall have a student monitor responsible for promoting compliance to Covid-19 control and safety measures.

Education institutions shall limit entry to their premises by members of the public by ensuring adequate security and safety measures including provision of fences and guards to restrict entry and exit into the schools.

Each education institution is supposed to appoint a member of the staff from the established Covid-19 taskforce to be a Community Liaison Officer and shall coordinate the institution’s relationship with the community to observe Covid-19 control measures.