Government trains teachers ahead of reopening of schools
A teacher conducts a class session. Ministry of Education has started training teachers and heads of school in preparation for the reopening of schools and institutions across the country. PHOTO / FILE
What you need to know:
- Closing schools. President Museveni closed schools in March last year following the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. The schools were later reopened in October for candidate classes and later for other classes though it was done in a phased manner.
- However, in June, following a surge in cases, schools were again closed. Some classes like Primary One to Three and Senior One and Two had not yet reported to school
Ministry of Education has started training teachers and heads of school in preparation for the reopening of schools and institutions across the country.
Among the beneficiaries are primary and secondary school teachers, tutors, and lecturers of teacher training institutions.
The virtual training, which kicked off yesterday by the department of Teacher Education, Training and Development (TETD), is slated to end tomorrow.
A September 9 circular, written by Mr Jonathan Kamwana on behalf of the Permanent Secretary, indicates that teachers will be taken through understanding of Covid-19, classroom protocols as well as reporting and referral mechanism.
Teachers are also slated to be taken through how to handle learners when they return, especially on how to offer them psycho-social support.
The teachers will also be equipped on how to support learners with special learning needs in the context of the new normal and assessment of improved learning.
“The purpose of this letter is to request you to mobilise all CCTs under your college to attend the trainer of trainers’ workshop on teacher preparation for schools reopening via zoom,” Mr Kamwana said.
According to Mr Kamwana, money for data will be reimbursed to the attendees after the training.
Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja will today convene the National Covid-19 Task Force to decide whether to reopen schools or not and discuss the new school calendar, among others.
This follows President Museveni’s rejection of the plan to reopen schools in October, saying it was too soon considering projections of a third wave of the pandemic
The President asked the task force to examine the impact of limited vaccination of teachers, support staff and elderly parents alongside risk of anticipated third wave on students returning to class and report to him during the meeting today.
The fate of at least 15 million learners remains unknown after schools were closed twice, in March last year and June.
Education experts have since called for psycho-social support for the learners.
The spokesperson of the Education Ministry, Dr Denis Mugimba, said the teachers can also share their training with the district taskforces and heads of school on how to report Covid-19 cases when schools reopen.
According to sources in the Ministry of Education, they are working on the new schools calendar that will guide reopening of schools.
Sources said the ministry is slated to kick-start school inspections next week to assess the readiness for reopening.
