Budaka RDC Tom Chesol noted with great concern that some teachers have made it a habit to continue taking alcohol before stepping into a classroom, and said the community has the authority to discipline them by caning.
Trouble and humiliation awaits teachers in Budaka who still enjoy the bottle to the extent of sipping during daytime as schools open for semi candidates next week.
Parents and the public have been urged by the Budaka Resident District Commissioner Tom Chesol to exercise their mandate and discipline by caning any teacher found drinking in the morning.
The RDC has warned
teachers both in government aided and private schools to desist from the habit
of consuming alcohol during school hours, saying that the act of drinking alcohol dents
their integrity and professionalism.
“There is that tendency of teachers taking alcohol very
early in the morning before one goes into class," Chesol said. "Such teachers should just
be disciplined because they will be undermining the professional code of
ethics. The community has that mandate to take
disciplinary action against such errant teachers by caning if found very early
in the morning drinking alcohol during school hours because teachers are
respected people in the community and they have to be exemplary.”
Chesol was meeting head teachers from both secondary and
primary schools at Bugwere High School, ahead of the re-opening of schools for
semi-candidates, which is slated for March 1,2021. He noted with great concern
that there are some teachers who have adamantly taken it a habit to continue
taking alcohol before one could step into a class which act he must stop with
immediate effect.
He challenged the head teachers to exercise their duties to
ensure that schools run smoothly by reporting teachers who have absconded from
their duty and have continued to defy the directives. Chessol added that they
should also adhere to the COVID-19 guidelines by
complying with the standard operating procedures issued by the Ministries of
Health and Education, as students and pupils prepare to return to schools.
The District Education Officer, Paul Higenyi warned that
teachers who fail to submit regular reports will have their salary withheld
for defying the ministry directives. He further cautioned the head teachers to
make sure all the SOPs are in place because the government has done its part to
release funds.
The District Health Officer, Dr. Elisa Mulwani, warned that
COVID-19 cases in the district could surge out of control if the general
public continues to relax in implementing preventive measures against the
virus. “COVID-19 cases in the district could rise out of proportion
if the public fails to observe the SOPs," Dr Elisa Mulwani explained. "Covid-19 is not politics but real. So
we should be more careful and observe the laid down guidelines
issued by the ministry of health.”
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Bureau Chief Elgon/Bukedi
JOURNALIST
