Government should address concerns of schools

What you need to know:

  • The issue: Reopening of schools. 
  • Our view: The raft of SOPs will require more money and resources to put in place all those minimums for the smooth operation of schools. Therefore, this is the time for government to revise the capitation grants upwards.

Government has finally allowed schools to reopen after nearly six months of being closed as a measure to curb the spread of Covid-19. Dr Monica Musenero, a member of the Covid-19 National Taskforce, says in a September 1 meeting with President Museveni they approved phased reopening of schools, starting with candidates and finalists in universities and other tertiary institutions on September 20.

This proposed phased opening is, however, accompanied by a litany of standard operating procedures (SOPs) from both the ministries of Health and that of Education. Among them is that there should be not more than 70 learners in a classroom or hall of any size for a lesson or other purposes. The ministries also banned career days, class days, group and close contact co-curricular activities. 

Institutions with large numbers of candidates and final year classes have been advised to operate in morning and afternoon shifts and schools to ensure restrictions are in place to prevent teachers from part-timing in multiple institutions and, thereby, increasing the risk of spreading infection among institutions.

The other directive, the ministry of Education has said, is no school should increase fees and directed all educational institutions to engage parents to adopt a flexible school fees payment arrangement, including allowing parents to pay in appropriate instalments. This is a welcome idea given some schools are likely to exploit the situation to charge exorbitant fees ostensibly to cater for the new normal in schools.

But even before the Covid-19 pandemic hit, some schools, especially private institutions, asked for fees that cost an arm and leg. So this directive is timely and handy. However, the secretary of the Ugandan National Teachers Association, Mr Filbert Baguma, said schools do not have enough funds to implement the SOPs and asks government to set aside money to implement them. 

He specifically referred to government-aided schools that rely on capitation grants, which funds are so meagre to run a school under the circumstances. Given that a new situation has arisen yet pupils and students must progress in their academic careers, what is government providing in terms of a package for the schools to help them reopen the institutions? Obviously the raft of SOPs will require more money and resources to put in place all those minimums for the smooth operation of schools.

Therefore, this is the time for government to revise the capitation grants upwards to cater for these unforeseen eventualities, just like they would have handled effects of landslides and flash floods through emergency funding. To leave it to the different schools to manage the operations regarding SOPs single-handedly is asking for too much yet government has stopped schools from increasing tuition.


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