MALAWI: Catholic University Impresses Government on Schools’ Reopening Preparedness
The Minister touring classes at Catholic University of Malawi
Luke Bisani
The Malawi Government through the Ministry of Education has expressed satisfaction with the extent of preparedness the University has undertaken in preparation for Schools’ reopening on 7th September 2020 in the country.
Speaking after visiting the University on Wednesday this week, Minister Responsible Agnes NyaLonje commended the University’s management for striving on preparations for reopening of schools after five months of closure.
NyaLonje disclosed that the University had put in place all the requirements to reopen schools amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
“What we have seen is that they have put in place all preventive measures that we had advised when we directed that schools should reopen: they have prepared PPEs in place, they have a task force managing Covid-19, they have put in place even an isolation house should it happen that one or two people have been found positive; and they are working closely with Chiradzulu District Hospital,” said NyaLonje.
The Minister further commended the University for putting a lot of resources in recruiting additional lecturers saying the development will help in lowering the numbers of students per class.
Vice-Chancellor of the University, Rev. Dr. George Buleya commended the Minister for her visit to witness what the University has done in view of the reopening.
“It pleased the Minister to come and pay us a visit we are quite happy that she chose the Catholic University of Malawi as a destination for her visit,” Said Rev. Dr. Buleya.
The Vice-Chancellor disclosed that the University will continue cooperating with the Ministry on matters of learning in Malawi.
One Week after the World Health Organization (WHO) declaring Coronavirus a global pandemic, the then president of Malawi Prof. Peter Mutharika ordered for schools’ closure on 25th March 2020, the Catholic University of Malawi management quickly grabbed the preparation boot to put in place all the necessary measures of teaching students amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Management set aside a Covid-19 budget to help in the preparation of Schools reopening among them being the completion of three mini-lecture theatres to increase learners’ space.
The University also switched to digital platforms so as to continue teaching students from their respective homes.
Over 90 percent of the students continued learning via Google Classroom platform.
