Uganda's schools reopen, ending world's longest lockdown
Kampala (Uganda), Jan 10: Uganda's schools reopened to students on Monday, ending the world's longest school disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The reopening caused traffic congestion in some areas of the capital, Kampala, and students can be seen carrying their mattresses in the streets, a back-to-boarding school phenomenon not witnessed here for nearly two years.
Uganda's schools have been fully or partially shut for more than 83 weeks, the world's longest disruption, according to figures from the UN cultural agency. The shutdown affected more than 10 million learners.
The East African country of 44 million people first shut down its schools in March 2020, shortly after the first coronavirus case was confirmed on the African continent. Some classes were reopened to students in February 2021, but a total lockdown was imposed again in June as the country faced its first major surge.
For many parents, the reopening was long overdue.
Inevitably, we have to open up schools, said Felix Okot, the father of a 6-year-old kindergartner. The future of our kids, the future of our nation, is at stake. The country's schools cannot wait forever for the pandemic's end, he warned.
The protracted school lockdown proved controversial in a country where measures aimed at stemming the spread of the virus were ignored by many. Vaccine scepticism, even among health workers, remains a problem, with growing reports of fake COVID-19 vaccination cards sold in downtown Kampala.
Many students returning to school are believed to have had no help during the lockdown. Most public schools, which serve the vast majority of children in Uganda, were unable to offer virtual schooling. The Associated Press reported in November on students in a remote Ugandan town where weeds grew in classrooms and some students worked in a swamp as gold miners.
Some critics pointed out that the government of President Yoweri Museveni an authoritarian who has held power for 36 years and whose wife is the education minister did little to support home-based learning. Museveni justified the lockdown by insisting that infected students were a danger to their parents and others.
There are many things which can't be predicted right now. The turnout of students is unpredictable, the turnout of teachers is unpredictable," said Fagil Mandy, a former government inspector of schools now working as an independent consultant. I am more worried that many children will not return to school for various reasons, including school fees.
Mandy also noted concern that a virus outbreak will spread very fast in crowded schools, urging close monitoring by school administrators.
Welcoming the reopening of Uganda's schools, Save the Children warned that lost learning may lead to high dropout rates in the coming weeks without urgent action," including what it described as catch-up clubs.
The aid group warned in a statement Monday of a wave of dropouts as returning students who have fallen behind in their learning fear they have no chance of catching up .
It remains to be seen how long Uganda's schools will remain open, with an alarming rise in virus cases in recent days. In the past week health authorities have been reporting a daily positivity rate in excess of 10%, up from virtually zero in December. Museveni has warned of a possible new lockdown if intensive care units reach 50% occupancy.
Hoping for a smooth return to school, authorities waived any COVID test requirements for students. An abridged curriculum also has been approved under an arrangement to automatically promote all students to the next class.
Uganda has received foreign support toward the reopening of schools.
The UN children's agency and the governments of the UK and Ireland announced financial support focusing on virus surveillance and the mental health of students and teachers in 40,000 schools. They said their support was key for Uganda's school system to remain open.
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Four held for selling banned narcotic substances in Bengaluru
Bengaluru (PTI): Four people, including three from other states, were arrested for allegedly selling banned narcotic substances in the city, police said on Tuesday.
With their arrests, police claimed to have seized 37. 400 kg ganja, 33 grams of hydro ganja and 23.19 grams of MDMA estimated to be worth Rs 48.24 lakh in the black market.
The action was taken following a tip-off on different dates that banned narcotic substances were being sold in the jurisdiction of the Mahadevapura, K G Halli and Malleswaram police stations, officials said.
During interrogation, the accused confessed that they had procured ganja, hydro ganja and MDMA from unidentified persons from other states with the intention of earning quick money and were selling the substances to the public and college students, a senior police officer said.
Efforts are underway to trace the persons from other states who supplied the narcotic substances to the accused, police said, adding that further investigation is underway.
