P6, S3 & S5 semi-candidates return to class next month; other classes to wait

President Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni has announced that semi-candidate classes of Primary Six, Senior Three and Senior Five will resume classes on March 01, 2021.

Schools have remained closed to millions of learners since Museveni took a decision to shut mass concentration areas in March 2020 as a way of preventing the spread of Covid19.

Candidates and finalists would later be allowed to return to class in October 2020.

Now, in his address on February 04, Museveni announced the reopening of sub-candidate classes.

“After carefully analysing the Covid-19 situation, we have now decided to open for the next candidate classes. These are Primary 6, Senior 3, and Senior 5. These will report on March 1, 2021,” he said.

The president revealed a reopening program for other classes would be worked on once candidates have completed their final examinations.

“From April 6 [end of O-level examinations – UCE], after the candidate classes have gone away, we shall announce the detailed program for the rest of the learners who are in the lower classes. We are organising this in a way that a group of students come and go away and then others also come in,” he noted.

For universities and tertiary institutions, Museveni also pushed opening in March “in March in a staggered way,” adding that learning should continue online.

“At least those ones have the capacity to study online, apart from the ones doing science courses who may need to come and do practicals. The academic year 2020 will end in July 2021.”

He further informed the nation that of the 1.3 million candidates who were allowed to return to schools last year, only 257 have been confirmed positive with Covid19. Next batch of students to report are semi candidates; P.6, S.3, S.5 on March 1, 2021.