The Minister of General Education and Instructions Awut Deng Acuil says all measures are in place to ensure safe resumption of learning, fending off fears from guidance that the decision on school reopening could backfire as COVID-19 impact lingers.
South Sudan government is set to reopen schools across the country after nearly two years of lockdown although primary eight and senior four resumed studies and sat for their exams.
“We are going to reopen schools on the May 3 next month. We conducted a number of meetings to prepare all the ministers, director generals for the reopening of schools so that all the requirements are put in place for schools to receive students which are going to come back,” Acuil told reporters.
“We would like to say that it is important to observe the protocol of coronavirus. The Ministry of Health has given the guidelines for safe reopening of the schools, one of it is that we must wear facemasks all the times in schools including teachers and supporting staff,” Acuil added.
Safety measures
Acuil also directed all the school administrations to follow guidelines and direct their students or pupils to continue adhering to the covid-19 preventative measures to prevent spread of the disease.
She called on the parents, communities and institution to start preparations for the school reopening.
“Our appeal to all parents, communities and all the institutions concerned to give this message to all our students that the schools are reopening and every child has to prepare to register,” said Acuil.
Grace Apollo Musa—Western Equatoria State Minister of Education and representatives of State Ministers—assured the public of students and pupil’s safety while in the schools.
“We the education State Ministers would like to assure you and the public that we will be doing our best that every child in the country, enjoyed their rights to education,” she stressed.
Mary Viola, a resident of Munuki in Suk Libya and a mother of five children. welcomed the announcement of reopening of schools saying it is better for children to resume classes and observe preventative measures than keeping them at home.
“It is shocking that so many teenage girls fell pregnant during lockdown, which can have lifelong consequences for them. We are extremely concerned about their wellbeing and their access to healthcare and other provision services,” Viola stated.
“So, for me it is better for schools to function because the lockdown has increased the number of girl child marriage and continue increasing, so as a parent, I really welcome the move by the government,” she added.
She added that when the school children are exposed to the behaviors such as sexual abuse, exploitation it destroys them.
“It is very important to take the precautions both inside and outside the classrooms to prevent the spread of Covid-19.”
Amid Covid-19, many girls face challenges of teen marriages, domestic violence, defilement and this has increased the number of school dropouts in the country.
Principally, a lot will need to be done to ensure that children are able to carry on their studies in a safe and healthy atmosphere, and make up for understanding and services that they may have missed during the Covid-19-induced lockdown.
In the awake of Covid-19, governments worldwide ordered for the closure of schools in order to contain the spread of coronavirus and South Sudan was no exception.