The Minister of Education and Sports Janet Museveni has appealed to parents, guardians and families to use this lockdown to empower their children with basic skills of life like cooking, gardening, looking after animals, , Art, music, physical activity, play and sports and many others.
The Minister said that due the present circumstances of total lockdown in the country, the greatest contributors to learning are the parents and immediate family members— asking them to take charge.
The First Lady addressed the nation on Monday elucidating on government’s plans towards education sector at a time the country is experience Coronavirus crisis.
The Ministry has produced a framework to guide the process of continuity of learning.
Below is her full speech:
It is my pleasure to address you again today on the Uganda Education and Sports Sector preparedness and response to the COVID 19 pandemic and its effects.
As you are aware H.E The President gave further directive on 14th April 2020 for additional lockdown for 21 days.
He stressed the fact that Uganda as a Nation is not yet out of danger from COVID – 19.
In my first statement of 4th April 2020, I addressed myself to two main issues:
Re-opening of schools and continuity of learning at home.
Regarding the reopening of the schools and institutions, I informed you that the Sector will be guided by the National Taskforce on COVID – 19.
If the COVID -19 would have been contained in the first 30 days of school closure that were expiring on 20th April 2020, the tentative dates for re-opening of schools and institutions would be on 27th April 2020 and 2nd May 2020 respectively.
I wish to inform you now that this will not be possible in the present circumstances.
On continuity of learning, I informed you that this happens beyond the four walls of a classroom but reinforced by effective implementation of the whole curriculum.
In the present circumstances of total lockdown, the greatest contributors to learning are the parents and immediate family members.
I therefore reiterate my appeal to parents and families, to help learning take place by involving the learners in their home activities to give them skills for life such as cooking, cleaning, gardening, looking after animals, business, Art, music, physical activity, play and sports and many others.
Spend time with your learners to develop their values and positive attitudes.
Tell them stories, riddles and other life lessons and support their learning.
Help your learners to make a craft or develop an innovation which will
be required at school at the re-opening.
Counsel, guide and encourage children to wait for the re-opening of schools with enthusiasm and zeal.
The Ministry has produced a framework to guide the process of continuity of learning.
We have also identified the basic competences/concepts to study, harmonized learning packages/materials for use in the continuity of learning while learners are at home, and prepared Guidelines for LG to ensure effective learning.
These will be delivered on Radios and Televisions and will mainly focus on P.1 to P.7 and Secondary level.
The learning by Radios and TVs have started today, Monday 20th April 2020.
As I said before, these lessons will address basic concepts which learnersat various levels have already covered.
The purpose of this to ensure consolidation of concepts already learnt as a basis for further learning when schools open.
In addition, learners will access pre-recorded lessons and other learners will access materials on line.
Self-study print materials for P1 to P7 have also been developed and will
be distributed to learners.
The Ministry will hand the materials to the District leadership led by the RDC and CAO.
These will distribute to the Sub-county chiefs who in turn will hand them to the Parish Chiefs.
The Parish Chiefs will use the LC1 to hand them to the homes.
Proper records shall be kept at every level.
These materials will be a great resource to our learners even after the lockdown.
The continuation of the systematic curriculum coverage will take place at school after the re-opening.
With regard to the learning for Pre-Primary (ECD) and Lower Primary
(P.1-P.3), this will mainly be home based.
Allow these young children to enjoy their childhood by teaching them through play, songs riddles, counting, listening, speaking and writing in both local languages and English.
Learners in TVET Institutions, Tertiary Institutions and Universities should engage in wide reading on various subjects including economics (Global and National) Social System, Health Inventions and Innovations.
This will widen their knowledge base.
As I mentioned before, these students should also read around their courses/modules on their current semester using every possible means especially the internet since they already have their course outlines.
However, National Council for Higher Education will work with Universities to ensure continuity of learning.
All Teachers, Instructors and Lecturers should effectively prepare for ALL the lessons/lectures for the current term/semester to redeem the time when schools/institutions re-open.
Headteachers and heads of Institutions are hereby instructed to give the teachers the necessary assistance for this preparation.
As you may be aware, even after the lockdown has been lifted, the education Institutions will need to be prepared for resumption of learning.
In this regard, the Ministry plans to strengthen the program of Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Psycho-social support, safety and security of learners and coordination with various stakeholders.
Working with Ministry of Health, we shall issue Standard Operating Procedures to education Institutions to ensure safety of learners and teachers.
Finally, the Ministry will continue to actively monitor the situation and
make further recommendations as guided by H.E The President, the Ministry of Health and the National Taskforce on COVID-19.
Ensure your personal safety and that of the learners by following the national guidelines on COVID -19.
Please avoid touching your eyes, mouth and nose.
Wash with soap and use sanitizers as often as you can.
Keep home and observe social distancing.
We are praying and trusting God who is able to reverse this situation.
We are confident that soon life will return to normalcy.
Once again, I would like to express my appreciation to all the government
agencies, individuals, organizations and education partners for the support they continue to accord the ministry during this difficult time.
I applaud all the health workers who are putting up a spirited fight to ensure recovery of the confirmed COVID-19 cases and prevention of further infections.
I will continue to update you on what is happening in the Education and Sports Sector as we receive new advice from the Ministry of Health. Please keep safe and ensure the safety of our learners.
I thank you all and God bless you!