Tanzanian children return to school following Covid-19 lockdown

This week children in Tanzania went back to school for the first time since March as the country emerges from lockdown.

Whilst Tanzania has only reported 509 COVID-19 cases with 21 deaths, the country stopped releasing COVID-19 related statistics from April 29, drawing widespread local and international criticism.

President John Magufuli ordered reopening of schools across the country, a fortnight ago, claiming that the situation has improved.

Even though COVID-19 is still very much present in Tanzania, the risk of being out of school is very real. 

In contrast to the UK, most children in Mtwara have been unable to access books over the last 3 months let alone online learning.  Girls are likely to have spent lockdown doing domestic chores or caring for siblings and boys will have been helping harvest crops and tending farms.

Thanks to our supporters, EdUKaid children have been luckier than most with regular contact from teachers and access to the community library.  As they return to school these children are being reminded about the benefits of good hygiene and use handwashing systems that help protect them from the virus and more common diseases caused by bacteria.

Over the next few months children will need to work hard to make up for the 3 months of education they missed. 

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