Wednesday, July 2, 2025
UG Standard - Latest News
  • Home
  • News
    • DIPLOMACY
    • COURT
    • AFRICA
    • BOOK REVIEW
    • INTERVIEW:
    • National
    • Parliament
    • World
    • Regional
  • Business
    • AGRIBUSINESS
    • OIL & GAS
    • REAL ESTATE
    • TECH
    • INNOVATIONS
    • TELCOM
  • OpED
  • EDUCATION
  • INVESTIGATION
    • NATIONAL ARCHIVE
    • SPECIAL REPORT
    • ANALYSIS
  • FEATURES
    • SOCIETY
    • Community
    • Pictorial
    • PROFILES
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • ENVIRONMENT
  • Tours & Travel
    • Hotel & Hospitality
  • Sports
  • About Us
  • Login
UG Standard - Latest News
ADVERTISEMENT

COVID-19: Declare end of 2020 academic year!

by UG STANDARD EDITOR | UG STANDARD EDITORIAL
13/06/2020
in OpED
Reading Time: 3 mins read
A A
0
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Prevention is better than cure. The government of Uganda called for the closure of academic institutions on 18/3/2020 after feeling threatened by the COVID-19 pandemic and the directive was effected on 20/3/2020 as a preventive measure.

Uganda is steadily proving to be partially successful in combating the COVID-19 pandemic. However, managing the post-COVID-19 lockdown impact will be a mountainous journey to traverse.

Related posts

Rotary District 9213 Gov. Geoffrey Kitakule speaks at a press conference Tuesday at Protea Hotel Kampala.

New Rotary Governor Kitakule calls for collaboration as new year begins

01/07/2025
169

CNOOC Uganda, Chinese team hold medical camp in Kikuube District

01/07/2025
153
Flexipay cashback Trolley Dash winner Kyomuhendo Leticia ejoying her moment as she checked out of the supermarket

Stanbic Bank unveils FlexiPay cashback promotion to boost digital transactions

01/07/2025
162

MAUREEN NAMOMA: Digitising Uganda’s Fuel & Hospitality Sectors: Why the Time is Now

30/06/2025
167

While coronavirus attacks humans by reducing the oxygen levels in the blood eventually causing a collapse of vital organs and death, it also shuts down vital economic organs including industries, services such as farms, tourism, hotels, and schools.

The education sector that is entirely dependent on the welfare of the economy which is headed to recession in 2020/2021 FY will direly be affected. As Bank of Uganda postulates at least two million people to lose jobs by the end of the pandemic; 15% of FDIs will disappear with skyrocketing prices on imports due to scarcity as Uganda stands at a 28% drop so far.

Uganda’s GDP is expected to fall from 5.2 (2019) to 2.3% this year (2020). It’s noteworthy, that all the key drivers of Uganda’s economy; industry, agriculture, and services have been affected and their recovery cannot be attained in the short term.

All those whose businesses may never recover and those who will or have already lost their jobs are either parents or guardians to the school going children who may henceforth, fail to pay school fees for their dependents this year.

The debacle within the academics is; when shall academic institutions reopen? Uganda established various measures in order to contain the spread of the pandemic in Uganda; social distancing, frequent washing of hands, observing sneezing etiquettes, and staying home.

Factories were allowed to operate on condition that they provide accommodation to their employees within factory premises. The government, however, continues to ponder about potential COVID-19 victims who are asymptomatic (patients without symptoms) who are thought to be potentially spreading the infection to communities unknowingly. Their status can only be confirmed after testing which costs at least $65 (240,000/=)

The educational implication of the already existing COVID-19 safety measures is that, if learning institutions are to resume any time soon this year then, all the 15 million learners and staff will need to be tested, permanently confined in schools and re-tested after some time until the end of a term/semester and mandatory sanitizing of all academic institutions among others.

What remains unclear is whether the Government will be ready to meet the cost of $975 million (Ush. 3.6 trillion) or is it going to be mandated to each school to meet its individual costs if schools must reopen this year before the vaccine is discovered. Having a temperature monitor at school entrances may not at all guarantee the safety of learners in schools due to the reality of asymptomatic carriers and yet due to limited school facilities, social distancing will pragmatically not be applicable to learning institutions.

In spite of Ministry of education’s interventions on learning through newspapers, self-study materials, and visual (televised) lessons, majority of learners due to psychological, technological, social, economic, geographical and technical impediments are not benefiting hence, the learning approach is currently ineffective to make any significant sense.

Due to the economic breakdown of all sectors caused by the lockdown, some private schools may close completely, many parents do not have money, and schools may not afford to pay their staff yet since the month of March this year, many teachers either received half or no salaries till May. Unless the Government is planning to earmark some special funding to support in clearing education expenses including statutory obligations for academic institutions.

Conclusively as an educationist, I recommend that UNEB, UBTEB, UNMEB, and others should plan to call off this year’s national examinations and all academic institutions should be advised to redesign and plan their academic programmes for 2021 academic year unless an affirmative intervention is urgently done otherwise, the education system is poised to experience the worst school dropout and failure rates in the recent history across academic levels.

The writer is a PhD (education) student – IUIU

Share this:

  • Share
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
  • Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window) Telegram
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp

Like this:

Like Loading...

Related

Tags: 2020 academic yearCoronanvirusCoronavirus in UgandaDeclare closure of 2020IuiuUganda

Related Posts

The write, Hellen Masika is a Community Mobilizer at Centre for Citizens Conserving Environment & Management (CECIC)
OpED

 HELLEM MASIKA: The Impact of Climate Change on Healthcare in Uganda, Challenges and Pathways to Resilience

by UG STANDARD EDITOR | UG STANDARD EDITORIAL
10/10/2024
0
269

The write, Hellen Masika is a Community Mobilizer at Centre for Citizens Conserving Environment & Management (CECIC) Climate change is...

Read moreDetails
The writer, Emma Bwayo is Young Politician, Journalist, and Law Student (PHOTO/Courtesy)

#UGAT62: The Youth Perspective and President Museveni’s Role in Shaping the Future

08/10/2024
338
President Museveni and his son, Muhoozi Kainerugaba (PHOTO/Courtesy)

2026 CRISIS: Is it Gen Museveni or his son Gen Muhoozi

11/03/2023
248
Hellen Masika, Community Mobilizer at CECIC, empowering communities for environmental conservation.

A Brewing Crisis: Climate Change and Uganda’s Coffee Industry 

18/09/2024
193
Load More

Popular Articles

  • Check out the top schools with pupils who scored 6 in 4 aggregates in the 2024 PLE results, as released by UNEB

    PLE 2024 Results: Top Schools with 6 in 4 Aggregates

    4361 shares
    Share 1744 Tweet 1090
  • How to Renew Your National ID Online: NIRA Pre-Registration Portal 2025 Guide

    3910 shares
    Share 1564 Tweet 978
  • NIRA unveils high-tech National ID, mass enrollment set to begin

    2660 shares
    Share 1064 Tweet 665
  • FULL LIST: Ministry of Education, NCDC publish self-study workbooks amid COVID-19 lockdown

    3322 shares
    Share 1348 Tweet 823
  • How to Check PLE Results 2024 on Phone, Online

    1783 shares
    Share 713 Tweet 446
  • PLE 2024 Results: UNEB Clarifies on Release Date

    1650 shares
    Share 660 Tweet 413
  • MPs clear govt to cancel 2020 academic year

    2796 shares
    Share 1150 Tweet 686

Recent Articles

Nile Breweries Head of Marketing Wangechi Gitahi with Solly Sebola, Chargé d'Affaires at the South African High Commission.

Nile Special, URU engage South African High Commission on Rugby events

01/07/2025
Rotary District 9213 Gov. Geoffrey Kitakule speaks at a press conference Tuesday at Protea Hotel Kampala.

New Rotary Governor Kitakule calls for collaboration as new year begins

01/07/2025

CNOOC Uganda, Chinese team hold medical camp in Kikuube District

01/07/2025
Uganda Breweries MD Andrew Kilonzo with his team with the award

Uganda Breweries Earns Prestige Trophy for 25 Years of Quality

01/07/2025
Discover how new pipeline deals, including EACOP and Russia-Congo agreements, are accelerating Africa's energy security and economic growth. Learn about these crucial infrastructure projects shaping the continent's future

New Pipeline Deals Fuel Africa’s Energy Future

01/07/2025
Flexipay cashback Trolley Dash winner Kyomuhendo Leticia ejoying her moment as she checked out of the supermarket

Stanbic Bank unveils FlexiPay cashback promotion to boost digital transactions

01/07/2025

Presidential Industrial Skilling Hub Partners with UVTAB to Enhance Job Readiness

01/07/2025

Recent CommentsRecent Comments

  • The Journey of Ibrahim Traoré on How President Ibrahim Traoré’s ambitious vision is driving Burkina Faso’s economic growth push
  • Ugandan Scientists Finalists For European Inventors Prize — Press Uganda on Ugandan scientists finalists for European inventors prize
  • Government Pumps UGX1 Trillion Into UDB To Drive Industrialization, SME Growth — Press Uganda on Government pumps UGX1 Trillion into UDB to drive Industrialization, SME growth
  • PS Ggoobi Tips On Building USD 500b Economy — Press Uganda on PS Ggoobi tips on building USD 500b economy
  • Museveni Meets German Envoy Matthias Schauer After Subversion Claims — Press Uganda on Museveni meets German envoy Matthias Schauer after subversion claims

UG Standard - Latest News

UG Standard, published via www.ugstandard.com isa publication of Sahel Media Solutions Ltd, a professional Digital/New Media company in Uganda info@ugstandard.com

Follow us on social media:

Latest News

  • Nile Special, URU engage South African High Commission on Rugby events
  • New Rotary Governor Kitakule calls for collaboration as new year begins
  • CNOOC Uganda, Chinese team hold medical camp in Kikuube District
  • Uganda Breweries Earns Prestige Trophy for 25 Years of Quality
  • New Pipeline Deals Fuel Africa’s Energy Future
  • Stanbic Bank unveils FlexiPay cashback promotion to boost digital transactions

OpED

Why de-register a Motor Vehicle in Uganda: and Consequences of Non-Compliance

Challenges of taxing law firms in Uganda

SHEILA ABOTH: Maternal healthcare must be everyone’s business because it takes a village

DARIUS NIWAHA KISHAHO: Securing Health After Retirement: Why a Post-Retirement Medical Cover is a Necessity, Not a Luxury

Open Letter to the Chief Justice: Your Silence on Corruption is Very Loud

© 2024 Ugstandard - Latest News by Digital/New Media company.

Welcome Back!

Sign In with Facebook
OR

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • DIPLOMACY
    • COURT
    • AFRICA
    • BOOK REVIEW
    • INTERVIEW:
    • National
    • Parliament
    • World
    • Regional
  • Business
    • AGRIBUSINESS
    • OIL & GAS
    • REAL ESTATE
    • TECH
    • INNOVATIONS
    • TELCOM
  • OpED
  • EDUCATION
  • INVESTIGATION
    • NATIONAL ARCHIVE
    • SPECIAL REPORT
    • ANALYSIS
  • FEATURES
    • SOCIETY
    • Community
    • Pictorial
    • PROFILES
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • ENVIRONMENT
  • Tours & Travel
    • Hotel & Hospitality
  • Sports
  • About Us

© 2024 Ugstandard - Latest News by Digital/New Media company.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
%d