In the midst of challenges posed by the socio-political crisis worsened by the COVID19 threat, the 2020/2021 academic year has been successfully launched in the South West Region.

Launched under separate themes for the Basic and Secondary School sectors,South West Governor Bernard Okalia Bilai while launching the school year at Bilingual Grammar School Molyko on Friday September 25,called on educational stakeholders to be more committed despite the challenges which have so far been further aggravated by the COVID 19 pandemic.

Dr. Hannah Etonde Mbua, South West Delegate for Secondary Education noted that the Region is very ready to kick start.She emphasised that, asfar as security is concerned, the education family is using the same strategiesput in place by the government.

‘‘the Governor of the South West Region had call on every one to be alert and we know how much he and his collaborators are putting in place to ensure that school campuses and environs have security. All the schools functioning have surveillance cameras. With these we are assured of security’’ Dr. Mbua Hannah noted.

Dwelling on the theme for the Basic Education Sector; ‘Ensuring Quality, Inclusive and Equitable Education with the Context of COVID19 for a Resilient School Year’, Madam Dorothy Motaze,  Regional Delegate for Basic Education compelled all Head teachers  to ensure anti-COVID19 measures are respected on their campuses come October.

That notwithstanding Madam Dorothy Motaze commended the teachers who sacrificed so much so that pupils could be thought despite the growing insecurity challenges in some Divisions of the Region.

‘‘These children have already missed out a lot for the last four years. In other Divisions, children are intimidated when going to school by unknown persons. But we thank God we were able to go through the academic year’’ she said.

As part of barrier measures to combat the spread of COVID19, anti COVID 19 materials were donated to the educational family.