Covid-19: Mozambican government reorganises schools to restart classes – Watch

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Covid-19: Mozambican government reorganises schools to restart classes – Watch

2:52 CAT | 01 Jul 2020

FILE PHOTO - For illustration purposes only. [File photo: Lusa]

The Mozambican government announced yesterday the reorganisation of schools for the phased restart of classes, taking into account the need to ensure social distance and reinforce hygiene to avoid coronavirus infections among students.

“What is intended here is to preserve the life and health of our children. To do so, preconditions must be created in our schools so that children are safe,” Mozambique’s Minister of Education and Human Development Carmelita Namashulua said.

Speaking to the media moments after a meeting of the Council of Ministers in Maputo, the country’s capital, Minister Namashulua clarified that the restart of classes in the country does not yet have a firm date, but would be done in stages, prioritising exam Grades 10 and 12 in secondary education, and Grade 7 in primary education.

The Mozambican executive is aware of the challenge, taking into account the current conditions of Mozambican schools, the minister said.

“For example, of the approximately 670 secondary schools in the country, only 300 have water and effective sanitation. So the work is doubled,” she acknowledged, adding that the school year calendar would have to be amended.

“We are likely to extend the school year to January and February. Consequently, the 2021 and 2022 school years will also be readjusted,” Minister Namashulua said. She would not, she added, rule out the possibility of closing schools again if the evolution of the Covid-19 situation in the country warranted it.

Mozambique has a total of 13,337 primary schools and 677 secondary schools in the public education sector.

Mozambican schools have been closed since April 1, under the state of emergency decreed by the Mozambican head of state, Filipe Nyusi.

On Sunday, the Mozambican President announced the extension of the state of emergency for the third time – the maximum provided for in the Constitution – with phased lifting of some restrictions.

In addition to the phased reopening of schools, there will again be international air connections with some countries, more people will be allowed in the workplace and museums may reopen.

Since the announcement of the first case in Mozambique, on March 22, the country has recorded a total of 889 positive cases, six deaths and 232 recovered people, according to the Tuesday (June 30) updates from the Ministry of Health.

The Covid-19 pandemic has already claimed more than 505,500 lives and infected more than 10.32 million people in 196 countries and territories, according to a report by the French agency AFP.

The disease is transmitted by a new coronavirus detected in late December in Wuhan, a city in central China.

Source: Lusa / Miramar