Schools open for second term of 2020

Schools have reopened for all grades on Sunday, for the second term of 2020.

The first term of 2020 ended in December due to a prolonged school closure following the Covid-19 pandemic.

While the second term commenced on Sunday under a new normal, as per the academic calendar publicized back in August last year, it will end on June 24 and the 2021 academic year will begin on August 10.

Welcoming all to “a great year” as classes resume after months of closure, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih expressed hope that resumption of schools “will be filled with wonderful learning opportunities while reconnecting with old friends and making new ones”.

Education Minister, Aishath Ali also welcomed students, teachers and staff back to school for the new year, and thanked teachers and parents “for ensuring the continuity of education in 2020”.

While schools have resumed for the second term of 2020, education ministry had said that students’ timetables will change weekly. Further, hand-washing facilities have been established in schools across the country while all will be required to wear face masks. Thermal cameras are also installed at the entrance of schools.

Schools went on mid-term holidays shortly after the detection of the country's first Covid-19 case and even though this was from a resort, authorities made the decision to delay the reopening of schools on 11 March 2020. However, with the declaration of the public health emergency a day later, schools were closed indefinitely.

While government institutions and schools were allowed to reopen on July 1, they were once again closed in August following a surge in cases.