The national ministry of general education has announced the phased reopening of schools across the country with candidates reporting to class on 5th October 2020.
Addressing the press on Monday, the minister of General Education and Instructions, Awut Deng, said phase one starts with class 8 and senior 4 candidates.
“I will launch a back to school campaign on Monday 5th October 2020 at Juba One Boys Primary school to ensure that primary 8 and senior 4 reports to school accordingly. I request the director generals in states to carry out similar back to learning campaigns in their areas,” she announced.
She said schools must adhere to the following COVID-19 health protocols to ensure the safety of teachers, pupils, and support staff.
“Provision of washing facilities, water tanks, sanitizers, and soaps; disinfection of schools, and classes must be split into small sizes. Provision of personal protection equipment for all pupils, teachers, and all staff; face masks, thermometers guns to measure the temperature of pupils before class,” she urged.
The minister further said that the more than 100,000 candidates will sit for their national exams in 2021 with primary school candidates sitting in early February 2021 while senior 4 candidates sitting in mid-March 2021.
“Reopening all schools for all classes on Monday 5th April 2021 for the new academic year. The ministry will with its partners particularly UNICEF will collaborate to prepare for phase 2 reopening of schools and this must be emphasized as the safe reopening of schools,” she added.
Early this month the cabinet directed the education and health ministries to work out modalities for schools reopening. The government closed all schools in March, as a measure to control the spread of the global COVID-19 pandemic.