Schools for Refugees

SUPPORTING EDUCATION FOR REFUGEES IN UGANDA

You are here: Home / News & Trips / On July 30, 2021, the President of Uganda extended the school lock down until sufficient vaccination is acquired and administered to the eligible population and children 12-18. There is a published plan to catch up to the regular school calendar by the academic year 2023. That plan may change due to the extended lockdown. In March, 2020, all Uganda schools were closed due to the pandemic. The school year began on February 1, 2020. During 2020 and 2021, the schools were allowed to reopen in phases. Grade primary 7 at St. Bakhita N&P reopened on October 15, 2020 and the year ended for them on April 5, 2021. Primary 6 reopened on March 1, 2021, and their school year ended on June 4. Primary 4 and 5 reopened on April 6, 2021 and their school year ended on June 4. Primary school grades 1, 2 and 3 were scheduled to attend classes from June 4 through July 24, 2021. Social distancing, face covering and other required precautions are strictly enforced. Due to the square footage of the classrooms, class sizes are reduced from up to 90 to no more than 36. SFR paid 17 teachers through December, 2020, at which time the community assumed primary financial responsibility for the operations of the primary school. The Uganda government may soon subsidize wages for qualified primary teachers which would supplement the reduced revenue associated with the reopening schedule. Dates for reopening the closed three-year nursery program has not been determined. Schools for Refugees continues to provide scholarship aid to 28 secondary(high school) students who graduated from St. Bakhita N&P. Of those, the 7 in secondary 4 completed their school year in April, 2021 and the 5 in secondary 3 are attending classes through May 21. 4 in secondary 1 returned on April 12 and will complete their year on July 3. Secondary 2 will return on May 31 and complete their year on July 24. The primary and secondary school calendars have been set through 2023 to get the students back on track without a lost year.

On July 30, 2021, the President of Uganda extended the school lock down until sufficient vaccination is acquired and administered to the eligible population and children 12-18. There is a published plan to catch up to the regular school calendar by the academic year 2023. That plan may change due to the extended lockdown. In March, 2020, all Uganda schools were closed due to the pandemic. The school year began on February 1, 2020. During 2020 and 2021, the schools were allowed to reopen in phases. Grade primary 7 at St. Bakhita N&P reopened on October 15, 2020 and the year ended for them on April 5, 2021. Primary 6 reopened on March 1, 2021, and their school year ended on June 4. Primary 4 and 5 reopened on April 6, 2021 and their school year ended on June 4. Primary school grades 1, 2 and 3 were scheduled to attend classes from June 4 through July 24, 2021. Social distancing, face covering and other required precautions are strictly enforced. Due to the square footage of the classrooms, class sizes are reduced from up to 90 to no more than 36. SFR paid 17 teachers through December, 2020, at which time the community assumed primary financial responsibility for the operations of the primary school. The Uganda government may soon subsidize wages for qualified primary teachers which would supplement the reduced revenue associated with the reopening schedule. Dates for reopening the closed three-year nursery program has not been determined. Schools for Refugees continues to provide scholarship aid to 28 secondary(high school) students who graduated from St. Bakhita N&P. Of those, the 7 in secondary 4 completed their school year in April, 2021 and the 5 in secondary 3 are attending classes through May 21. 4 in secondary 1 returned on April 12 and will complete their year on July 3. Secondary 2 will return on May 31 and complete their year on July 24. The primary and secondary school calendars have been set through 2023 to get the students back on track without a lost year.

The Uganda government closed schools, including St. Bakhita Nursery and Primary School until May 19, 2020 due to the concern about spreading the covid-19 virus. That date may be extended. The students and teachers are staying close to home and due to lack of text books and computers, formal learning has come to a halt. As of May 16, in the entire country of Uganda, are 227 reported cases of the virus with no deaths and no community transmission. 42 cases are Uganda nationals. 63 have recovered, There is one reported case in the neighboring town of Masindi. Most cases are foreign truck drivers tested and quarantined at the eastern and northern borders.