Uganda has rejected a request by foreign envoys to reopen international schools before the end of the year because of Covid-19 concerns.
The envoys said that international students’ academic year would be disrupted if the reopening of schools was pushed back.
Education Minister Janet Museveni argued that most learners in international schools are day scholars and would easily transmit infections.
“[The] Government will reopen all institutions when it is safe. If we vaccinate all the teachers, non-teaching staff and elders in the community, we shall open schools knowing we have done everything to save lives,” said Mrs Museveni, who is also the country’s first lady.
More than 15 million learners are still at home since the government closed all institutions of learning on 6 June to contain a second wave of Covid-19 infections.
President Yoweri Museveni last month said all universities and other tertiary institutions would reopen from 1 November while the remaining learning institutions would resume in January 2022.
The president also allowed religious and social activities such as weddings and funerals to resume.
