The announcement by the Ministry of Sports and Education to reopen schools
on January 10th, 2022 triggered both excitement and confusion among
parents. Many parents were off
guard. To curtail the spread of the novel COVID-19 contagion, the Government imposed extended
lockdown measures including the closure of education institutions consequently
sending home over 1.5 million learners.
The prolonged lockdown fueled teenage pregnancies, disorderliness, and criminal
behavior among children under
the helpless watch of their parents, many of whom lost jobs. Recently, the Ministry of Education set
January 10th, 2022 as the date for reopening schools nationwide. Cathy
Namatimba, a teacher and resident of Sseguku, a Kampala City suburb could not hide her
excitement about the announcement.
"About schools opening, am excited and can’t wait to see my son back to a physical
school. About tuition, we shall look for it," Namatimba told URN. Collins Mugisha, a resident of Kyebando
Kisalosalo in Kawempe Division, said the
prolonged closure of schools has become a burden to him because his children
have become intolerable with weird behaviors. He says the school is a safer shelter for them.
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Agatha Tumwine, a teacher and concerned parent
expressed concern that
while some children from well-to-do families accessed online lessons, several
of them were not treated with the same privilege creating an undesirable disparity
that needs time to bridge.
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Morris Mugenga Kayitaba, another parent observed that reopening
of schools is a good stride by the government because the prolonged lockdown
confined the children and
deprived them of the opportunity to interact with their peers.
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Mary Laker, a police officer attached to Jinja
Road Police Station, says that her
son who was in S.1 before the closure
of schools in March 2020 has overgrown.
She says that although the reopening of schools is welcome, it will baffle
salary earners.
The first term will run-up to April 15, 2022. Thereafter, learners
will attain a break for three weeks and return for the second term spanning from May 9 and to August 12. Meanwhile, third term is slated to
start on September 5th and run
until December 9th, 2022.
Ochola's journalism career begun from Radio King 90.2 FM in Gulu around 2009, and Radio Rupiny 95.7 Fm under Vision Group in 2012. He also reported for Mighty Fire 91.5 Fm, Kitgum in 2015 before joining Wizarts Foundation in 2017.
He has been reporting for Uganda Radio Network (URN) since 2017 before being posted as Bureau Chief Kitgum, and later Gulu between 2018 - 2021. Currently, he reports from Parliament.
