Schools decry high cost of SOPs ahead of reopening

Administrators of both public and private schools across the country have offered verbal assurances about their readiness to reopen for candidate classes on Thursday next week, seven months since their closure to contain the spread of Covid-19.

However, some schools, especially private ones, have raised concern over the cost involved in ensuring adherence to the standard operating procedures (SOPs) put in place to control the spread of Covid-19.

President Museveni last month gave the green light to reopen the schools for candidate classes and finalists in tertiary institutions. Since then, heads of various institutions have been working around the clock to put in place facilities as requested by the ministries of Health and that of Education.

The Ministry of Education rolled out an assessment exercise on Monday to ascertain the schools’ compliance to SOPs ahead of the return of learners. Some of the SOPs include schools rearranging the sitting of learners using all available rooms to ensure the required social distancing, buying of temperature guns, sanitisers and foot-operated handwashing facilities. 

In Bukedea District, the head teacher of Bukedea Lifeline Secondary School, Mr David Ekwau, says because of the limited number of candidates (240) for both Senior Four and Senior Six, they will be in position to accommodate them in their 800-capacity main hall and ensure social distancing.
“To that effect, we also have hand washing facilities, supplemented with temperature guns,” he explains.
Mr Ekwau adds that what they have not done is testing their staff for Covid-19, adding that they are waiting for the government to honour its promise of testing all teachers.

Concern over fees

However, he says the problem at hand is that most of the returning students did not complete registration fees for the national examinations yet many parents may not have money for school fees and other requirements, given that many have lost their sources of income.

Mr Julius Opaso, the head teacher of Teso College Aloet in Soroti District, says they have enough space to accommodate both Senior Four and Senior Six candidates. Mr Opaso explains that the school has two wings; East wing accommodating S3-S6, and the West wing for S1-S3 students.

“We have had a series of meetings with administrators, teachers, and non-teaching staff, and consensus has been reached on adherence to the SOPs,” Mr Opaso says.

In Kaberamaido, Mr David Henry Edyangu, the head teacher of Olelai Primary School, says all they have is a borehole and a handwashing facility but without enough detergent.

Mr Edyangu adds that they are also afraid some learners may not return as they could have been married off.
Mr Michael Okidi Okech, the head teacher of Layibi Secondary School in Gulu City, says they are prepared to start. “We are waiting for the date of reopening; we have whatever it takes to start,’’ he says.

“Despite the school having hand sanitisers, we are also asking parents to send their children with their own hand sanitisers for personal use,” he adds.

Mr Oketch, however, says parents might not be in position to pay both school fees and the Unganda National Examinations Board (Uneb) registration fees.
“I am afraid very many students from poor backgrounds may not report back looking at the financial situation at grass roots at the moment,” he said

Mr Godfrey Bangi, the chairperson of secondary school head teachers in Adjumani District, says all government-aided primary and secondary schools have not yet received funding from the government for procurement of temperature guns, sanitisers, facemasks and detergents.  

“As we wait for disbursement of funds from the government, our partners in education have agreed to support us in reopening the schools for finalists. They will offer the necessary support to all the schools with finalists,” Mr Bangi says.
He adds that they have also carried out joint inspections in all the schools to ensure all SOPs are in place.
Ms Hilda Reichl Ibba, the director of Uganda Kids Nursery and Primary School, says they have embarked on plans to reopen for candidate classes.

“Everybody in the school compound will wear a facemask. Our classrooms are well ventilated, and we shall ensure proper spacing of learners,” she said.
The Kabale District education officer, Mr Moses Bwengye, says inspecting schools as directed by the government is not an easy task because of limited funds.
“We recently received Shs4.5m, part of which was used to purchase tyres for the double-cabin pickup truck of the education department. The remaining balance cannot facilitate the inspection activity given that we have 113 government primary schools, 34 private primary schools, 14 government secondary schools, 10 private secondary schools and about six tertiary institutions,” Mr Bwengye says.

The secretary for social services in Kanungu District, Mr Frank Byaruhanga, says they received about Shs5m for inspection of schools and part of it was used to repair the vehicle of the education department.
“We need more money to carry out the inspection of schools and tertiary institutions as directed by the government,” he said.
The head teacher of MM College, Wairaka in Jinja City, Ms Hilda Mutesi, says they are prepared and are waiting for the students to report.

“We have met all the requirements set by both the ministries of Education and that of Health - the handwashing machines and the temperature guns, among others,” she says.

However, Ms Mutesi says some teachers may not accept to stay in the school premises as one of the SOPs. 
Mr Abudalla Mangalija, the director of Ruigo Primary School in Kabarole District, says they have no funds at the moment to meet the required SOPs.

“Most of the private schools in the country have no money to reopen and our appeal is that government should come in and give us support,” he said.

‘Choking on loans’

Mr Mangalija explains that many schools are choking on bank loans and debts owed to service providers.
Mr Abas Asasirwe of Dream Secondary School in Rubindi, Mbarara District, says putting in place all the guidelines has become very expensive.

“We had loans; we are struggling to get money to implement these guidelines. We have tried our best to ensure we have in place SOPs such as handwashing facilities and temperature guns. The period given to have these guidelines in place has been too short,” he explains.

Directors of schools in Njeru Municipality, Buikwe District, claim the government has not supported them to observe the guidelines, which they say  require a lot of funds.

Ms Jane Francis Nakimbugwe, the director of Green Valley Primary School in Njeru Municipality, says the guidelines have left a big financial burden on schools.

“The government has distanced itself from the private schools and yet we pay taxes,” she says.
Mr Francis Makumbi, the head teacher of Lakeside Primary School in Bugonga, Entebbe Municipality, says: “We have adhered to all the SOPs such as procuring a temperature gun, handwashing equipment, sanitisers and also social distancing in classes.”

Mr John Baptist Kimbowa, the Rakai District education officer, says they are inspecting all schools to ensure the set guidelines are followed. He, however, decries the limited time for inspection.
“We have hard-to-reach areas and our inspectors find difficulty in movement, especially during the rainy season. However, we shall try by all means to make sure everything is well set for our candidates,” he says.

In Mbale, Mr Paul Munialo, the head teacher of Mbale Progressive High School, says as private schools, they are trying to put measures in place amid financial challenges.
“We are financially constrained but we are trying to put some measures in place,” he says.

 Mr Munialo says although the school closed with about 400 finalists, they are likely to get less numbers because some students have since dropped out.

Mr Paul Arege of Abakuli Primary School, Bata Town Council in Dokolo District,  says they last week held a meeting with the district education officer to forge a way for reopening.
“We shall dialogue with the parents to allow candidates sleep at the school and we plan to, among other things, change our hand washing facilities,” he says.

Compiled by Simon Peter Emwamu, George Emuron, Emmanuel Eumu, Robert Muhereza, Denis Edema, Stephen Okello, Martin Okudi, Rajab Mukombozi, Alex Ashaba, Derick Kiisa, Milton Bandiho  Al-Mahdi Ssenkabirwa,Ambrose Musasizi, Sylvester Ssemugenyi, Eve Muganga, Fred Wambede, Bill Oketch & Patrick Ebong