The Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Education and Sports Mr Alex Kakooza, has said schools and institutions of higher learning in Uganda will remain closed as the country grapples with a surge in COVID-19 cases.
He tweeted yesterday (Monday) that only candidate classes and finalists in institutions of higher learning are open adding that the rest will wait until the government reaches a decision on when to re-open.
“Contrary to media reports, government has not yet agreed upon the re-opening of schools and higher institutions of learning for non-candidate classes,” Mr Kakooza said.
Mr Patrick Muinda, the Ministry of Education Spokesperson said that the decision to open schools for other learners will be communicated by the President.
Professor Mary J. N. Okwakol, the Executive Director, National Council for Higher Education said her council has received several requests from higher institutions of learning to open for all students.
However, she says the opening of higher institutions of learning in Uganda will depend on resolutions from the Ministry of Health, the National COVID Task force and the Ministry of Education and Sports.
“The purpose of this communication is, therefore, to urge all Higher Education Institutions not to reopen until a decision of Government on this matter is communicated,” wrote Prof Okwakol.
In October last year, Uganda re-opened candidate classes, seven months after the government closed all schools, colleges and universities due to the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic.
As of Monday, the country had a cumulative total of 39,185 Covid-19 cases, 13,861 recoveries and 318 deaths.
Uganda reported its first Covid-19 case on March 21, 2020.
