It is expected that educational institutions will re-open in January 2022, after nearly two years of closure, according to an announcement made by President Yoweri Museveni in September. Since then, the education ministry has promised to release a revised school calendar and roadmap to the pre-reopening activities in vain.
Prof. Annette Nakimuli who has previously discovered the gene in African women that pre-disposes them to high blood pressure in pregnancy or preeclampsia will now be studying characteristics of women who are likely to suffer four maternal health related complications so that health workers can intervene early on. The complications include Preeclampsia, pre-term birth, still birth and intra- uterine growth restriction where a baby in the womb does not grow as normally expected.
Dr. Robert Ojambo, the spokesperson FASPU says that the National Executive Committee reviewed their decision and resolved not to strike and instead petition the Education Minister to start negotiations before next year in March.
On Monday, the Minister in charge of ICT and National Guidance, Dr. Chris Baryomunisi, said that the Cabinet had resolved all Universal Primary (UPE) and Secondary Schools (USE) to stop charging learners any fees as schools reopen in January next year.
The cabinet that met on Monday agreed that government should abolish all forms of charges that have been collected from learners in Universal Primary Education-UPE and Universal Secondary Education –USE schools.
The House has been divided on the request by Education Minister Janet Museveni to meet MPs at Kololo Independence Grounds to discuss the re-opening of schools.
Due to the lack of a law supposed to put in place national examinations for these institutions administered by UBTEB, some institutions set and teach content that is not aligned to the set BTVET curriculum.
Ayume’s remarks come at a time when several players in the education sector including fellow parliamentarians are tasking the education ministry to issue out an official road map for school reopening as the first step towards planning on resumption of physical teaching and learning activities.
Effective this year, the Ministry of Education and Sports, through the 2019 National Teacher Policy, phased out lower qualifications for teachers in favour of degree programmes. According to the policy direction, the ministry also stipulated that the teacher degree programme will be running for four instead of the normal three years.
“You are the same people who have been complaining about opening of schools," said Among.
Medard Lubega Sseggona, the Busiro East MP who said that Minister Museveni should be humble and do things neatly, and needs to recognize that Parliament supervises her and not the reverse.
Dr Munir Safieldin says that the new funding from the Swedish Embassy is to partly support the Government of Uganda-UNICEF Country Programme 2021-2025 worth US Dollars 400 million which was developed with the main objective of realizing the rights of children.
The development of a Comprehensive Sexuality Education Policy has been as area of contention between civil society, education officials and lawmakers with the latter saying the policy would expose children to homosexuality and masturbation. Now court has ordered the MOE to work with all relevant stakeholders to make sure the country has a policy in two years
Nambasa’s best performance was from the school of medicine where she obtained 481 votes beating Obeid Kamulegeya who managed 72 votes. Makerere University used both electronic and physical voting.
Dr Lukwago says that the commission is highly considering deploying teachers depending on where they have applied from. According to Lukwago, this will take immediate effect this month during the next upcoming recruitment exercise.
Male was the 13th Headteacher of Kings College Budo, one of the oldest schools in Uganda with a legacy spanning 115-years. During his tenure, he was vocal in rallying the school’s alumni (Budonians) to improve the infrastructure of the school and revive its glory, with a new face.
Due to neglect, many school structures have been vandalized or collapsed. Some of the schools have also lost property such as furniture and solar panels to thieves. In Nakasongola, classrooms and latrines at Lwampanga Roman Catholic, Kabira –Muwunami, Busone, Moone, and Kyebisirye primary schools are submerged.
Some students argue that they have not had adequate time to study while others are unable to complete payment of tuition fees and registration which is mandatory to sit for examinations.
