Mental health challenge for re-opening school

Academic marathon

But not everyone is convinced and prepared for a grueling 28-week academic marathon. Some mental health experts fear for the students’ psychological wellbeing.

Kyarimpa said government must put more effort into the students’ mental health because it is as important as their physical health. Sewajje adds that majority of learners need to be rehabilitated before they get back to school.

He says during the lockdown, thousands of cases of sexual violence have been reported around Uganda. Although the government’s policy allows pregnant learners to continue with their studies after delivering, schools have in the past banished pregnant girls from school.

And although the education ministry has said schools must allow finalists to continue learning even when they are expecting, Sewajje says, without a deliberate system that seeks to rehabilitate them, it might not be that easy for these girls to return to school.

Dr. Mary Goretti Nakabugo, the executive director of Uwezo-Uganda, a citizen led non-profit organisation that tracks education trends in the country told The Independent on Sept.30 that re-opening schools should not focus on academics only but also look at the mental wellbeing of the students and teachers.

Dr. Nakabugo is particularly worried about the mental exertion that learners are going to endure in the coming months. Nakabugo said psycho-social support should be provided for teachers and the learners.

“The trauma of thinking about your final examinations is bad enough,” she said. On Aug.20, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund noted that the extended education disruption has led to poor nutrition, stress, increased exposure to violence and exploitation, childhood pregnancies, and overall challenges in mental development of children due to reduced interaction.

The long-term social and economic impact of extended school shutdown is also concerning. According to a World Bank modelling, school closures in sub-Saharan Africa could result in lifetime earning losses of US$ 4500 per child.

“Schools have paved the way to success for many Africans. They also provide a safe haven for many children in challenging circumstances to develop and thrive,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO regional director for Africa.

“We must not be blind-sided by our efforts to contain COVID-19 and end up with a lost generation. Just as countries are opening businesses safely, we can reopen schools,” she said.

But Dr. Moeti said the decision must be guided by a thorough risk analysis to ensure the safety of children, teachers and parents and with key measures like physical distancing put in place.

Filbert Baguma, the General Secretary of the Uganda National Teachers Union (UNATU), a 140,000 strong union told The Independent on Sept.30 that he is worried about the mental state of the teachers, the learners and the parents. “The head teachers are in fear and I don’t know who is going to help the other.

There is need for psycho-social support,” he said. “We are not sure whether the situation will not get worse.” He told The Independent that the students would have only gone back to school with the sole purpose of preparing and sitting for their examinations.

“The SOPs are difficult to handle and the heads of institutions need capacity building,” he said.

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