Ethiopia set to reopen schools next academic year

Addis Ababa, August 25, 2020 (FBC) –The Ministry of Education (MoE) said that preparations are underway to reopen schools next academic year.

Dr Engineer Getahun Mekuria, Minister of Education, said registration of students will commence at government and private schools as of tomorrow.

Ethiopia closed all schools in March this year as part of measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19).

He said schools have been granted permission to begin registration from August 26, 2020 by deploying health measures needed to prevent the virus.

During the teaching-learning process, schools will be supplied with facemasks, hand sanitizers and other related materials in partnership with stakeholders, he added.

According to the Minister, students are required to wear facemasks, keep their distance from others and wash their hands to contain the spread of the virus.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) last week urged African governments to accelerate the reopening of schools.

They said the continent’s youths will suffer from prolonged closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to a survey of 39 countries by WHO and UNICEF, only six African countries have fully opened schools.

By Baharu Yidnekachew