Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has advised the government to consider re-opening primary and secondary schools this year to enable students to sit for promotional exams.
In his last address about COVID-19, President Yoweri Museveni revealed that schools will open in 2022 after at least 4.8 million people have been fully vaccinated.
However, FDC disagrees with gov’t’s decision as the party says schools can open as early as mid-October this year to complete this academic year’s syllabus and sit for promotional exams in mid-December.
“Topics not handled during this Covid 19 education transition period, can then be carried forward,” says FDC.
The opposition party says that even the proposal to study in shifts is not workable because of inadequate classrooms in both public and private schools.
“The ratio of teacher to students also poses another headache. What the country needs to remember is that teachers are required not only to teach but to set tests and mark them periodically. This requires a lot of time,” says FDC.
It adds, “There is absolutely no way schools will handle two senior ones, two senior fives, two primary ones, etc. Promotional exams must therefore be done this year to avoid a possible stampede at the resumption of schools in January.”
Meanwhile, FDC also wants Education Minister and First Lady Janet Museveni sacked or moved to another ministry as they claim he cannot handle the crisis.
“The country needs a full-time minister who is ready to be in the field identifying problems and suggesting solutions. Museveni’s wife is busy and inaccessible to handle this crisis.
If a ministerial appointment, is one of the marriage gifts, Mr. Museveni can give his wife a less demanding ministry such as minister without portfolio,” says FDC.