Phase I: Schools Reopen For Candidate Students

By: Ritah Namakula, Children of Uganda Program Director

The 2020 academic year was prematurely cut short on March 18th as a precautionary measure to control the spread of the coronavirus. As a result, 206 learners sponsored under Children of Uganda (and enrolled in various schools at different educational levels) have been at home ever since.

With the announcement that schools would reopen on October 15th, 2020, as part of the phased reopening of educational institutions across Uganda, a cloud of uncertainty was partially lifted for students and teachers who have been in lockdown. 

This initial reopening is limited to only finalists and candidate students (P.7, S.4 and S.5; as well as several S.3 students slated for vocational school) – about 1.2 million learners across the country. Children of Uganda has a total of 45 candidates and finalists at different levels who have now returned to school.

The education authorities have therefore revised the academic year schedule to allow students to report for the ‘2nd term of school’. Tentatively, the Ministry of Education plans that the 2nd term will end around mid-December and in late January or early February 2021, the 3rd term will kick-off.  Candidates are then expected to write their final exams around March or April, 2021. Going forward, the academic year will be slowly harmonized to fit into the calendar year.

When schools reopen, the co-curricular activities will be temporarily suspended so that teachers concentrate on reintegrating learners into the school system, carry out remedial work and ensure that the syllabus is covered.

It should be noted that other learners will have to wait longer because it is not yet safe to allow large crowds in the school buildings. The government has also mandated that only schools who meet the “Standard Operating Procedures” (SOPs) will be allowed to reopen.

How We Feel About The Move To Reopen:

As a family support organization, this is a very complicated situation. As much as our children have been largely exposed to different challenges while at home, returning to school presents risks of its own.  We have watched as other countries open schools and then another wave of infection forces them to close. If the situation worsens, then we shall have a big problem. Schools have been closed for some time and we are concerned as to how prepared and serious they are with observing the SOPs. The move to reopen risks a new spike in infections, as young people and teachers mix together.

When Covid-19 cases were few, the government closed schools. Now that they have increased, the government has decided to reopen schools. We are remaining with approximately two months to end the year; many are wondering why the government would choose to reopen schools now.

As of September 22nd, Uganda has registered 6,879 positive COVID-19 cases and 69 fatalities.

There’s still the probability a case may occur in school. A number of questions arise from such a scenario, for instance “How sure are we for both learners and teachers that they are safe? In the event that there’s a COVID-19 case in the school, learners will be struggling to get out of school, and the school might close. The question is whether they will quarantine all the students and where do they quarantine them?

How Students Are Feeling:

Reopening schools has been received with mixed feelings from students. Most of our students are so eager and excited to resume school.  Some say the long break has been nice, but sometimes boring. Others have many worries due to their home environments and the education uncertainties.

In spite of being exposed to e-learning and self-studies, they have been missing the intangible value their teachers offer as well as interactions with their colleagues.

However, some of our students also seem worried and skeptical about returning to school. They say returning to school means mixing with other students who come from different locations and although there are challenges, it’s better to stay home than to mix with people and get sick. Some are also worried about their non-candidate siblings and friends who do not know their fate and when COVID-19 will end.

What Our Students Have To Say:

“I am ready to go to school because it’s a little bit different to learn with teachers since there’s guidance and the teaching is good. Reading at home has been hard. It hasn’t been purposeful because I was not sure whether we shall resume and even do exams. I am now going to read with a purpose knowing I will be doing my exams.”

-Sarah Konjo – S.4. student, ID #936

“It’s the first time I have been out of school this long. I was worried that I wouldn’t do my very first UNEB exams after all the 7 years of struggle. I am in P.7 and its such a big deal for me. I can’t wait to complete and join secondary; I am very excited for the many subjects in secondary. I am eagerly waiting for that change and I am so ready to return to school. All I need for my safety is a mask and hand sanitizer.”

-Ivan Ssekimpi – P.7. student, ID #1016

“Reading has been hard during the lockdown and children were picking up unhealthy habits which was worrying me because they could easily spread or affect all of us. I was also worried that I would repeat a class, but that is no more since we are resuming. I am happy and feel relieved.”

-Shadia Nansubuga – S.4. student, ID #1037

“Sitting at home this long has been like a nightmare for me. I have been bothered a lot by the uncertainties and I can’t wait to return to school. However, I am worried about school requirements, prices might be hiked and schools are likely to ask for more than usual yet our guardians are financially constrained.”

– Martin Mulindwa – P.7. student, ID #1073

The Burden On Families

Meanwhile, the economic implications of COVID-19 continue to bite. Many rural and urban poor people, including our supported families, lost their sources of regular income. This has created significant financial instability as they have little or no savings to resort to.

If not for our loyal sponsors, many guardians would have no means to send their child back to school – unable to afford tuition, requirements and fees.

Schools have different fees policies; some require payment in advance, while others require payment at the start of the term. However, due to the lockdown financial constraints, most schools (including our own partner schools) are not being lenient and have requested for payments in advance of returning to school. Some schools have also requested for 100% payment of 1st term school fees, which we find unrealistic given that students were only in school until March.

Since schools will have just a few students (only candidates), it is going to be expensive to maintain in addition to providing hand washing facilities, temperature guns and disinfection facilities. We together with the government, schools and guardians will therefore have to invest heavily in hygiene materials as students restart.

“Students have to report on 15th October, but there’s no money as yet to pay for bills, teachers’ salaries, food, water and other utilities. How do we run the school? One class cannot pay all staff members and maintain other utilities, as well. The burden will be shifted to parents in some schools, but they aren’t well either because some have lost jobs, others are on half pay; and yet you expect money from them, some may not be able to send their children back to school. In fact, some parents who are still reeling from the economic impact of the pandemic may withdraw their children until next year.”

-Elizabeth Namwanje, Headmistress of Kamuli Primary School

There have been reports that many private schools across the country were undergoing financial distress. In July, the proprietors of Najjeera Progressive School with 500 students announced they had decided to close it after 32 years of existence:

“After comprehensive analysis of the business viability, we are certain the school cannot survive the shutdown measures alongside other pre-existing pressures,”

-Andrew Timothy Nsamba, Former Director of Najjeera Progressive School

Although life will go on, it will not be the same for many: schools, students, guardians and support organizations like us will have to adapt to survive.