Combating COVID-19 in public schools
UNICEF and Partners distribute hygiene kits to 300 schools in North and South Sinai as well as Ismailia
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Every child is eager to get back safely to school meet their friends and teachers. Life during the COVID-19 pandemic is difficult for parents and children alike. Hence, the Ministry of Education and Technical Education (MoETE) with the support of UNICEF are taking every effort to ensure the safe continuation of educational services in every school for every child in Egypt.
And to curb the spread of COVID-19 in schools, UNICEF in partnership with MoETE and with the generous contributions from the UK government, and in collaboration with the Egyptian Red Crescent (ERC), are distributing hygiene kits to 300 schools in North and South Sinai as well as Ismailia.
This crucial intervention is part of the UK-funded joint programme entitled “Integrated Education Services for Vulnerable and Marginalised Children in Egypt”.
A high-level delegation from MoETE alongside UNICEF, and the British Embassy in Cairo, visited one of the schools that benefited from this support.
During the visit, hygiene kits and personal protective equipment for students and teachers were delivered to “Al-Obour” primary school in Qantara district located in the Suez Canal city of Ismailia.
The distributed kits include the following items: liquid soap, hand sanitizers, bleach disinfectant, infrared thermometers, face masks; as well as, cleaning utensils.
The Director of General Education at MoETE, Dr. Randa Shahin; has warmly welcomed this support stating that this intervention would surely help schools to face the challenges that they might have during the education process because of COVID-19.
The Undersecretary of MoETE in Ismailia Mr. Taha Aglaan, expressed his gratitude, emphasizing that the reopening of schools process is a challenge for everyone. “We continue to suffer from the effects of the pandemic till today. But I am more than happy to have partners like UNICEF and the UK government who are supporting us on the challenge that we're facing to bring all of our children safely back to school", said Mr. Aglaan.
Mr. Jeremy Hopkins, UNICEF Representative in Egypt emphasized that UNICEF is making every effort to protect children and their families, empowering young people and providing protective equipment for schools and health care front-liners to prevent and control the spread of COVID-19 in Egypt.
On a parallel front, the First Secretary Essential Services at the British Embassy Cairo, Mr. Shaun Collins said that “Fighting COVID-19 pandemic will help our kids to go to school safely. We are in this together. “
Also, Mohamed Basher, representing the ERC during the visit said, “decisions on control and preventative measures in schools should be consistent with decisions on other physical distancing and public health response measures within the community.”
UNICEF supports the Government’s led efforts to have additional measures in place to help ensure students, teachers and other staff are safe when they return, and parents are confident in sending their students back to school.
