Margret Amanya, a resident of Nyabutute village says,due to lack of a public secondary school, many young children have dropped out of school to participate in farming activities which has negatively impacted on their education cycle.
Currently, learners seeking secondary education are forced to trek long distances — between 15 to 20 kilometers — to access Butiaba and Ngwedu Seed Secondary Schools.
The activists warned that, in the medium and long term, experienced civil servants might resign in large numbers, contrary to the government's intended objective of retention.
The district, which is home to 74 government-aided primary schools, currently has only 720 teachers, well below the required 1,350 teachers, leaving a gap of 630 educators.
“In 2025, we will prioritize visiting Church of Uganda schools across the diocese to better understand their challenges and provide the necessary support,” Bishop Kisekka stated.
President Yoweri Museveni has in the recent past directed Head Teachers of Universal Primary and Secondary Education schools to stop the practice of charging fees to learners.
Emmanuel Turyagenda, the settlement Commandant at the Panyadoli refugee settlement area, explains that the number of children of school age in the settlement area far exceeds the number and capacity of schools, classrooms, desks, chairs, and toilets among other requirements.
Educationists argued that instead of producing critical thinkers, problem-solvers, and collaborators who are vital to the long-term health and well-being of communities, the formal education system will breed illiterate graduates if parents continue to abdicate their role in children’s learning.
Raymond Korobe, the Nabilatuk District Education Officer, says that the two secondary schools have started admitting senior five students who will later next year be enrolled for the Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education-UACE.
Statistics from the district health, education, probation and social welfare departments show that from July 2020 to August 2021 6,440 girls aged between 15 and 19 years are reported pregnant in the district.
Chairperson Lugoloobi says since most parents returned work, children who are left at home with liberty to move anyhow are at high risk would be safer in a restricted school environment with the COVID-19 standard operating procedures being followed.
In 2020, schools globally were fully closed for an average of 79 teaching days. However, for 168 million students, after the pandemic began, schools were shuttered for nearly the entire year. Even now, many children are facing an unprecedented second year of disruption to their education, and prolonging the first year of School which sets up the building blocks for all future learning, with introductions to reading, writing, and math.
While meeting the members of the Uganda Vice Chancellors Forum today, members of the National Economy committee of Parliament said that even though schools were to resume, it would be impossible to complete the syllabus and actually achieve what was to be attained in a full educational year.
Rosemary Sseninde, the State Minister for Primary Education told parliament on Tuesday that her Ministry had not set a date for schools to reopen. She added that following the Cabinet meeting on Monday, a select committee was set up to look into the matter.
The Kazo Town Council LC 3 chairperson, Enock Rutashorora, told the committee that when the work stalled, he approached the Education and Sports Ministry to inquire what was happening that is when he was told that NKW building and Construction Company limited that was awarded the tender is unknown
Frank Kirere, says that the district has a number of transferred headteachers and teachers especially in secondary schools but are not removed from the district payroll.
A team of officials led by the Sheema Resident District Commissioner, Frank Kyereere stormed the school premises on Wednesday and ordered teachers and students to vacate the premises.
A team of police officers led by Mbale District Police Commander, Fred Ahimbisibwe fired the teargas to stop clashes between Mbale SS students and their arch rivals of Nkoma SS.
