P.7 & S.4 students go back to school whilst others in phased return
It’s fair to say there has been a bit uncertainty in the air as we entered into a new calendar and academic year.
Uganda has voted in its latest presidential elections at the beginning of February 2021. Yoweri Museveni continues to hold the position, for a sixth term, since first coming into power in 1986. Rioting, violence, internet blackout and claims of election fraud, provided the backdrop to the last couple of months, creating uncertainty as to the future direction and safety of the country.
In the background of all this, coronavirus continues to live mostly undetected, without sufficient testing, infecting and hospitalising many. Despite the concern of coronavirus, the government are keen to push forward with the reopening of schools, which have been shut to all but those taking exams since March 2020. We were expecting all school years to restart at the beginning of February but a lack of clear communication leaves parents and students uncertain as to when they will go back to school.
The clearest communication we have received about the phased reopening of all school years has been through leaked documents and related stories in the national newspapers. Students in exam years (P.7, S.4 & S.6) have started back at school already, to finish off their 2020 exams. We are preparing to follow the schedule suggested below for all other students.
P.6, S.3 & S.5 will report on March 1 and study for 14 weeks, breaking off on May 21.
P.4 & 5 classes will study for eight weeks, starting on April 6 and end on June 4.
P.1, 2 & 3 to come in on June 7 and study for eight weeks, which will end on July 24
S.1 students are expected at school on April 12 to study for 14 weeks, which end on July 3.
S.2 will report on May 31 and study for 10 weeks, which will be concluded on July 24.
The majority of students will start back at school for the first time in 11+ months. During this period, we have been able to provide school resources for all those children we support to study at home. Depending on decisions made in the coming weeks by the Minister of Education, we will look to provide additional resources for all those that won’t start back on 1st March.
In the meantime, our team are:
supporting those who completing their P.6 and vocational exams in the coming month (4 of the 10 pictured below).
preparing resources and support to the other 47 children we sponsor and their parents
starting to teach those who have registered this month onto our vocational training classes in Katanga.
guiding young women who are now enrolling onto vocational courses in colleges or apprenticeships.
