Malawian President to announces plans to reopen schools in September

The President of Malawi, Lazarus Chakwera has announced the government’s plans to reopen schools in September, 2020 despite the increase in the country’s locally transmitted coronavirus cases.

Lazarus Chakwera in his weekly national address Saturday evening said only schools that meet the government’s safety standards on the novel coronavirus prevention will be reopened.

Meanwhile, the country’s health experts has warned of wide-spread of the killer disease should the schools fail to put in place necessary COVID-19 measures to slow the spread.

Malawi’s President Lazarus Chakwera directed for the closure of schools in the country on March 20, 2020 even before the country recorded its first three cases of the global pandemic o April 2, 2020.

The President’s decision to reopen schools in the country is in response to a call from education activists who last week met Chakwera and told him the closure of schools was jeopardizing the future of students, especially girls.

According to reports, hundreds of female students across the country have fallen pregnant and others reportedly getting married since the schools are closed.

Malawi’s Health Ministry earlier last week outlined guidelines for school authorities to follow once schools are reopened in the country.

The guidelines include temperature checks, documentation of persistent cough or shortness of breath, and routine documentation of students from families affected by COVID-19.

Source: Georgeweb.org