Teachers rally parents to return learners to school

Kampala, Uganda |  THE INDEPENDENT |  A section of schools around Kampala are rallying parents to return learners to school. This follows the low turn up of primary four and five pupils. 

The learners resumed classes on Monday, after the academic year was prematurely cut short on March 18, 2020, as a precautionary measure to control the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). 

At some of the schools visited by URN reporter, teachers noted that given the inadequate time they have to cover the syllabus, they have started normal lessons despite the low turn up of pupils. 

At Bat Valley primary school, the headteacher James Wonyaka says that the school is working with the local leaders to mobilize parents to bring back the learners to complete the syllabus. 

David Ssengendo, the headteacher at Buganda Road primary school, says that before the covid 19 lockdown, the school had 392 pupils in primary four, but only 98 pupils have so far reported. 

Ssengendo says that they had 353 pupils in P5, but 150 learners have so far reported. 

Ssengendo sympathized with the parents that have not been able to return their children on the first day. He however says that this will not stop classes from resuming since they have to cover a lot in the eight weeks. 

Alice Nabwire, the Deputy Headteacher, KCCA Kamwokya Primary School, says that they are optimistic more pupils will report during the week.  According to Nabwire out of the 242 pupils in primary four, 51 pupils reported while  in primary five, the school has registered 54 pupils out of the 249 children.  

Jane Kyakuwa, the Head Teacher Kitante Primary School, says that they are contacting parents to return their children to schools. She says that before the schools were closed, there were 502 pupils in primary four and 460 learners in primary five. However, so far 356 pupils in primary four and 328 pupils in primary five respectively have reported.  

The first phase of re-opening only targeted semi candidates (P.6, S3, and S.5). 

According to the Ministry of Education, P.4 and P.5 will study for eight weeks and break off on June 4, to allow lower primary classes to report back and use the school facilities.

Primary 1, 2 and 3 will report back on June 7, 2021, and study for eight weeks, which will end on July 24th. The academic calendar 2020-21 will end in July. 

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URN