The Ministry of education and sports has set a date for the reopening of the international schools in Uganda but must observe strict standard operating procedures (SoPs).
According to the ministry, the general guidelines on safety measures for reopening of education institutions shall also apply to international schools in Uganda.
“However, given that these schools follow the school calendar of their international affiliates and their candidate classes do not correspond to the standard education cycles in Uganda”.
The ministry says the international schools in Uganda may reopen and operate at full capacity with effect from 21th September.
For the safe education institutions operations and risk reduction of the spread of Covid-19, the ministry says the Institution should fully internalize and adhere to the requirements in the SOPs.
Prior to reopening, the management of each education institution serving as quarantine centres shall undertake to ensure that if their institution is disinfected and confirmed as safe for resumption operations. The disinfection shall be done with support of the respective district COVID-19 taskforce.
The management of all education institutions shall hold a staff meeting to discuss the implementation of the SOPs within the institution and agree on appropriate classrooms and dormitory spaces to ensure physical spacing of 2 meters between learners in class and in dormitories.
Each institution shall constitute a COVID-19 taskforce of not more than seven (7) members, including two (2) learners and a member of the support staff.
Each class/lecture room shall have a student monitor responsible for promoting compliance to COVID-19 control and safety measures.
All education institutions shall ensure the proper use of facial masks that must be worn at all times. Each learner should have a minimum of two face masks.
Education institutions shall take every precaution to ensure that no learner, who is reported to have entered the country illegally, is allowed into institution premises. Such learners should be reported to the relevant authorities for necessary action.
Education institutions shall restrict entry to their premises by members of the public.
Education institutions should provide extra support to safeguard vulnerable learners, including SNE learners, and learners with identified health conditions.
Institutions should establish or strengthen collaboration with Covid-19 District Taskforce and social service providers for continuity of critical services in institutions such as health screening, school feeding programs, guidance and counseling.
Each institution should appoint a member of staff from the established Covid-19 taskforce to be a Community Liaison Officer (CLO).
The CLO shall coordinate the institution’s relationship and engagement with the community to promote observance of Covid-19 control measures.
Institutions should guide and counsel learners against Covid-19 related stigmatization.
All education institutions should conduct behavior change and health education sessions for staff and learners and provide reminders on safety, in form of posters, on safe behaviour.
Implementation of the SOPs requires ample facilities such as classrooms, desks and hand washing equipment, which may not be readily available in all institutions. It is necessary that institutions effectively utilize the available facilities to implement the requirements of the SOPs.
Each institution should re-arrange the sitting of learners using all available rooms within the school to ensure the required social distancing. This may include use of libraries, laboratories, dining halls, main halls where available.
Where classrooms have temporary partitions, institutions should remove the partitions to create larger rooms for ample sitting and aeration/ventilation.
Where available, main halls, dining halls and other large rooms should be prioritized for use as classrooms to ensure that available teachers cater for a sizeable number of learners per class.
However, there should not be more than seventy (70) learners in a room/hall of any size for a lesson or other purposes.
A foot-operated hand washing facility shall be placed at strategic point of access to each block (and floor where applicable) used by learners and staff.
Safe temporary shelters, such as tents, may be used as classrooms. Open air spaces, such as tree shades may be improvised as temporary venues for some classes among others.
Kampala International School Uganda (KISU) a top international school in Uganda recently reduced its school dues by 50% for students enrolling for its running school programs.
KISU, the best international School in Uganda, prepares learners to be global citizens. The school located in Bukoto prides in “educating today’s children for tomorrow’s world”.
The school management announced that the special Covid19 discount which will be rolled out online.
It means educators at KISU will be engaging with learners via digital spaces, and still retain that personal care for each student, as is the case during normal school times.
