The Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE) has in a statement put out on Thursday 11th June said that schools will reopen on 1st July 2020 to accommodate only pupils who will be taking the National Primary School Examination (NPSE), the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
The Ministry said that pupils who would be taking the WASSCE, would attend classes for six week starting from Wednesday July 1, 2020.“Examination will be conducted between 4th August 2020 to 4th September,2020 (note: WASSCE dates are synchronized across the sub-regions and could be subject to changes as deemed fit by Council),” the Ministry said in the statement.
For candidates who would be taking the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) , Schools will open for a minimum period of eight (8) weeks for tuition effective 1st July 2020 with examination conducted for eight (8) days starting a week after WASSCE, tentatively on the 14th September 2020).
Candidates for the National Primary School Examination (NPSE) will attend classes for a total period of four (4) weeks for classes effective 1st July 2020 and will take the examination immediately afterward, tentatively on the 31st of July, 2020.
Schools have remained closed in the country since March 2020 due to the outbreak of the Coronavirus.
The decision to reopen schools for the examination classes came after the Ministry on June 9, 2020, convened a consultative meeting with critical stakeholders in the Education Sector on school reopening in Sierra Leone.
The Ministry said that the Emergency Education Taskforce (EET) on School Reopening Readiness Working Group would continue to work with partners, school authorities and MBSSE to develop and communicate comprehensive logistical requirements for the reopening of schools under the current conditions. “Schools will reactivate their safety protocols which will be closely adhered to and monitored.”
The Ministry said in the statement that, in consultation with the National COVID-19 Emergency Response Centre, the Ministry of Health & Sanitation and other partners, MBSSE would indicate guidelines for school attendance and reopening which would include the minimum number of students who would be allowed in a classroom and the activities which would be allowed in schools. “These guidelines will be communicated via official channels. All citizens are advised to only use verified information from MBSSE published on the Ministry’s official website (www.mbsse.qov.sl) or other channels but with MBSSE official stamps,” the Ministry advised.
By Sallieu Kanu
12/6/2020. ISSUE NO.: 7844