‘They have lost how to learn’: Uganda’s youth face uncertain future after world’s longest school shutdown

A lack of remote learning means returning pupils are playing catch-up, while millions of others are unlikely to go back to class because of economic hardship, reports Michael O’Hagan

Pupils sit inside their classroom at the Sweswe primary school in Kyegegwa District, Uganda (Reuters)

Sitting in the shade outside his school in Kamuli Nalinya village, just northwest of Uganda’s capital, headteacher Freddie Mpiima is anxious as he reflects on the impact of the world’s longest Covid-induced education shutdown.

Schools across the east African country finally reopened on Monday after being closed for more than 83 weeks, affecting more than 10 million pupils, according to the UN.

Yet campaigners and officials fear that millions of children will not return to class because they are working to help their families, have fallen pregnant, or have been married off, while teachers are concerned about the lost learning time for those who are able to return.