Government banned visitation days and leavers’ parties organized for candidate classes by schools over the Ebola
By Namale Shahista
The Ministry of Education and Sports canceled all school visitation days and leavers parties last month on 28th October 2022 as students sit their PLE and UACE Uganda national end-of -year exams until the end of the current school term.
“As you are aware, the country is experiencing an outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease. Given that some positive cases have now been confirmed among learners from families of known contacts, it is necessary to strengthen the existing infection prevention measures at school level,” said Education official Ismael Mulindwa in a circular to all schools, from the office of the ministry’s Permanent Secretary.
This circular means even planned Nursery School Graduation Ceremonies and PTA General Meetings planned by parents, teachers and pupils in schools will not take place this year.
In this regard some parents we managed to talk to have not welcomed the move by the ministry saying there was no need for suspending children’s parties at a time when their finals are around the corner.
Nalunga Ramulah a resident of mpererwe and a mother of a primary seven pupil from Gayaza primary school says that the ministry would have left the candidates continue with their preparations for the party but limit parents and outsiders from attending rather than suspending the entire events.
“It took me some good time and money to buy my child an outstanding outfit for the leavers party and a few days remaining to the event boom ministry comes out to stop the party not thinking twice, that is not fare instead it’s just going to traumatize our kids batujeko akajanja “Nalunga said.
However, Ssenabulya Ivan a resident of mukono says that as a parent that has a primary seven candidate has no problem with what the ministry decided because it’s for the betterment of the children.
‘’I can still organize a small party for my child even after exams at home, I don’t see a big deal in fighting with the school heads and ministry over the ban, my fellow parents just need to accept and look out for another alternative for the best of these children” Ssenabulya asserted.
Meanwhile the director Zai Nursery and primary school located in Namagoma Ssemyalo Shafik Kabazi says that by the time the ministry announced the ban, his school had just finished the party {candidates Duwa]and so they were not that affected.
He adds that as the school they usually carryout the leavers party two weeks prior to exams in order to give the pupils time to relax their minds properly having gone through all they want.
But according to Fatuma Buyungo director Golden balls nursery and primary school located in Bunamwaya Ngobe Kampala, the ministry should have called school heads and have a talk on how to operate these parties under the ministry of health guidelines before banishing them.
“My pupils were very disappointed, crying blaming themselves saying why them, everything happens to them even covid19 affected them, but all in all as teachers we are there to console them and make them understand that it’s for their own good …she added”
Nabasirye Shindua a children’s counsellor at Tangerine consultants says that leavers party perhaps it’s a way to relieve stress and momentarily forget about one’s hefty exam schedule.
“It’s pretty difficult not knowing what to expect going into finals week, considering you have to read a lot of notes compiled in the books, banning these parties can psychologically torture these young ones because they are used to seeing these parties done for others and have even taken time to prepare their minds for it by getting nice dresses and so on…. says Shindua.
Nabasirye however advises the teachers around these pupils during the briefing on Monday 7th November 2022 to take time and console them not to be disappointed and lose hope because of withdrawing their party.
The primary seven candidates totaling 749,809 will be briefed on Monday, November 7, 2022, and start their examinations with the Mathematics Paper on November 8, 2022, and the Social Studies paper in the afternoon.
The next day, learners will sit for the integrated science paper and end with English on November 9, 2022.
