School children pictured during a morning prayer at Juba One Primary School 11th June 2021. (Photo: Juba One Primary School).

The Ministry of General Education and Instruction has decided to revert to the initial academic calendar before the Covid-19 outbreak in 2019.

The academic calendar for primary and secondary levels has been distorted by the closure of schools due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In March 2020, schools were closed after the government imposed a lock-down to curb the spread of the contagious virus.

Classes then resumed for Primary 8 and Senior 4 candidates in October 2020 after the government partially lifted the coronavirus measures.

In February 2021, the ministry announced the full reopening of all schools and grades which coincided with the normal academic year.

The COVID-19 measures forced some schools to extend learning to the new year to cover the lost period.

However, in a letter issued yesterday, seen by Eye Radio, the Undersecretary at the National Ministry of General Education says the academic calendar will run as it used to be prior to the Covid-19 lock-down.

“I am pleased to inform you that the Ministry of General Education and Instruction has decided to revert to the old academic calendar, pre-covid-19 that operated from February to December,” said Undersecretary Kuyok Abol Kuyok.

According to Kuyok, the schools will commence on Monday, 6th of February, and end on Friday 22, December 2023.

He said the schools will close for a week for the conduct of the examination of the Primary leaving Certificate and two weeks for the Secondary Education Certificate respectively.

Kuyok urged all schools across the country to adhere to the calendar, warning that any school that breaches the directive will be penalized.

The Undersecretary appealed to the states and the three administrative areas to conduct back-to-learning campaigns in their respective areas.