KIU News

  • Home /
  • KIU News /
  • Universities, Schools to Remain Closed for Another 3 Months due to COVID-19 Surge - Ministry of Education

Universities, Schools to Remain Closed for Another 3 Months due to COVID-19 Surge - Ministry of Education

universities-schools-to-remain-closed-for-another-3-months-due-to-covid-19-surge-ministry-of-education

By Rogers Wanambwa

KIU, Main Campus - According to the Ministry of Education and Sports, schools and institutions of higher education are to remain closed for the foreseeable future due to a surge in COVID-19 cases.

Alex Kakooza, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Education and Sports said on Monday.

“Contrary to media reports, the government has not yet agreed upon the re-opening of schools and higher institutions of learning for non-candidate classes,” Kakooza said.

Besides, the Permanent Secretary indicated that only candidate classes and finalists in institutions of higher learning are open.

In addition, Ismail Mulindwa, the Director of Basic Education last week said the Ministry was holding dialogues with the National Taskforce on COVID-19on the potential reporting date.

“We have not yet decided the exact date on when they will return. But it's next month. We are still in discussions with health authorities,” he said, noting that the exact date will be communicated.

Professor Mary J. N. Okwakol, the Executive Director of the National Council for Higher Education confessed that her council has received several requests from higher institutions of learning, requesting to open for all students.

However, she said that this will all depend on the resolution from the Ministry of Health, National Taskforce on COVID-19, and the Ministry of Education in regards to opening up of Higher Institutions of learning in Uganda.

“The purpose of this communication is, therefore, to urge all Higher Education Institutions not to reopen until a decision of Government on this matter is communicated,” Prof. Okwakol wrote.

However, a January 27 letter from NCHE has given a directive that schools should remain closed for at least 3 months as the country studies the COVID-19 situation until it improves.

This leaves a staggering 15 million young Ugandans at home from March last year. A bid that was taken to curb the spread of the Coronavirus in the country.