Confusion as education ministry orders schools not to mix boarding and day students

The Ministry of Education and Sports has made a u-turn on its earlier order that all returning learners should reside at school or be dayscholars to avoid spreading Covid19.

This previous order had made some school heads convert their institutions into boarding schools while others had sold off the schools altogether.

Now, days after schools reopened their gates for semi-finalist classes, the ministry of education officials, including permanent secretary Alex Kakooza and Dr Kedrace Turyagyenda, the Director of Education Standards, have warned schools against compelling students to join boarding sections.

Kakooza and Turyagyenda have also warned school heads against converting day schools without following set guidelines and procedures.

According to Turyagyenda even private schools should follow the ministry’s guidelines or risk losing their licenses.

She said there is no point in schools rushing to convert school classrooms into dormitories, while neglecting guidelines to do with security and sanitation for learners.

Meanwhile, whereas PS Kakooza told reporters on March 03 that it was okay for school to operate as day and boarding, he ordered that institution heads should ensure that day scholars and boarding students do not mix.

This would mean these attending classes in separate rooms, and using different dining and sanitation facilities.