COVID-19 Lock-down Students To Use Radio, TV and Internet For Lessons-First Lady

BY PATRICK JARAMOGI

KAMPALA, UGANDA|SHIFTMEDIA| Plans earlier announced to open schools by the 27th April 2020 have been dampened further with no seen hopes insight for schools and institutions of learning to open.

First Lady and Minister for Education and Sport, Hon. Janet Kataha Museveni made it clear as she addressed the nation on Monday night that it is still early to think of opening schools.

Janet Museveni instead urged parents and guardians to facilitate the continuity of learning amidst the lockdown.

While delivering a COVID-19 Education Response plan, Mrs. Museveni asserted that continuity of learning would progress beyond the classroom to homes and hinted on the distribution of self-study aids.

“On the 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,” said Janet Museveni

“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,” she said.

The First Lady further disclosed that the Ministry had sanctioned a framework to guide the process of continuity of learning with a focus on the basic competencies highlighting harmonized learning materials for use in the continuity of learning.

“These lessons will address basic concepts which learners at 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,” Mrs Museveni said.

She disclosed that the learning would be delivered on Radios and Televisions; mainly focusing on P.1 to P.7 and Secondary level starting Monday, April 20 in addition to pre-recorded lessons and materials that will be accessible online soon.

“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,” said Mrs. Museveni.