COVID-19: Uganda reopens schools after two years of lockdown
Schools have reopened in Uganda after being closed for nearly two years, ending the world’s longest education disruption due to the Covid pandemic.
State Minister for Higher Education John Muyingo said on Monday that all students would resume their classes a year above where they left off.
“All schools have implemented guidelines and standard operating procedures to ensure the safe return of children to schools, and measures have been put in place to ensure those who don’t comply do so,” Mr Muyingo said.
The schools in Uganda have been fully or partially closed for over 83 weeks, affecting more than 10 million pupils, according to figures from the United Nations.
Uganda first shut down its schools in March 2020, after the first coronavirus case was confirmed in Africa. In February 2021, some classes were reopened to students but a total lockdown was imposed again in June after the country faced its first major surge. Uganda has so far reported 153,762 COVID-19 cases, including 3,339 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University.
The decision to reopen schools in Uganda has been supported and encouraged by the United Kingdom and Ireland. Both countries have partnered with UNICEF to support two key activities which aim to support safe and sustainable reopening of schools.
The United Kingdom provided £450,000 to UNICEF towards the initiative and Ireland provided Euro 1.8 Million to UNICEF for the overall Government of Uganda school reopening programme.
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
Abuja
FG begins paying exit benefits to civil servants, 175 retirees receive N1.1 billion
The federal government has begun paying the newly introduced exit benefit for retiring federal civil servants, with about N1.1 billion paid to 175 retirees.
World
25 Years After: How al-Qaeda terrorists crashed hijacked plane into Twin Towers, Pentagon, killed 2,977 people on September 11
Today, September 11, marks the 25th anniversary of the deadly terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon in America, killing 2,977 people.
Africa
U.S. to host delegation from Nigeria, Kenya, others to strengthen maritime security
USTDA will host a business briefing in Washington on Wednesday where representatives of U.S. companies will engage the delegates one-on-one.
Lagos
Netizens react after Lagos woman gets one-month imprisonment for dumping refuse in drain
“One month? Bawo, even this Lagos State is a joke. The gravity of that offence warrants six months to a year imprisonment, to be candid,” stated Moneer Alao.
Africa
UN says no real change in South Sudan civil war despite 2018 peace deal
UNMISS says there has been “no real change” in the country’s ongoing civil war despite the 2018 peace agreement aimed at ending the hostilities.
States
Ogun: Police nab child traffickers, rescue three children in Ibafo
The police command in Ogun has arrested three persons for the theft and sale of children in Ibafo.
