Education Ministry wants parents to opt for nearest schools

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Parents have been asked to consider nearby schools for their children following the disruptions caused by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The pandemic has interrupted the education of over 1.5 million learners in Uganda after Government took drastic measures to close all educational institutions of learning to curtail the spread of the virus.

The two-time nationwide lockdown announced by Government in March 2021 and June 2021 due to an upsurge in new cases, caused untold distress and students especially those who study in Kampala outside their home districts, failed to travel back after transport costs were hiked.

It took the intervention of the Police, Army and business communities to arrange for means of transport to rescue learners who were stranded in schools and different bus terminals. Dozens of students contracted the virus from school and passed it on to parents resulting in more deaths.

Dr Joyce Moriko Kaducu, the State Minister for Primary Education says parents should learn from the disruptions caused by Covid-19 and invest in standardizing local schools within their localities from where their children can study as opposed to long-distant schools.

Dr Moriko disclosed that currently, the Ministry is researching to aid the development of a policy roadmap that will help encourage parents to embrace the initiative of strengthening local schools.

Patrick Robert Larubi, a parent, former teacher and rights activist says the Government must invest in changing the mindset of the parents to invest in local schools as opposed to thinking that anything outside is associated with the requisite standards.

Nwoya District Education Officer, George Ayibi Butele, argues that parents who choose to send their children for studies in far off schools with better standards have the financial capacity and it is impossible to limit their choices.

To keep learning in progress following the closure of schools, the Education Ministry has initiated digital lessons over radio and television across the country to cover the lost time caused by the pandemic lockdown.

Moriko also emphasized that they are developing a comprehensive roadmap for schools reopening to enable completion of the education cycle, based on mass vaccination of learners and teachers against the pandemic.

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