Prime
90 schools shut in Ntungamo
This school in Kibaale District was closed on Monday due to infrastructure. Several schools in Ntungamo were also shut due to similar complaints. PHOTO by Francis Mugerwa.
What you need to know:
There are 234 UPE schools in the district and 158 private ones. Ninety-five of the private schools did not have operating licences by the end of last year. Following education ministry notices four have complied and acquired licences.
NTUNGAMO
Authorities in Ntungamo District have closed at least 91 private primary schools in the district over operating illegally, leaving about 18,200 pupils and their parents hustling for new vacancies elsewhere.
The District Education Officer, Mr Charles Bakeine, said on Monday that the closed schools were on December 12 served with a notice directing them not open for first term over failure to secure operational licences for more than four years now. He said the schools failed to heed to notices reminding them to get licences from the Ministry of Education.
“We are saying enough is enough, they have operated for a long time. We gave them warnings, they have failed to heed; we can not allow any unlicensed school to reopen,” Mr Bakeine told this newspaper.
He said 16 schools were closed in Rubaare Sub-county and Rubaare Town Council, 10 in Rugarama, 11 in Nyakyera, 15 in Ruhaama, seven in Ngoma, six in Itojo, 14 in Rukoni Sub-county and Kitwe Town Council, five in Ntungamo Sub-county, One in Nyabihoko four in Kibasti and two in Kayonza Sub-county.
Poor infrastructure
On average each of the closed school had 200 pupils and five teachers. About 20 had up to Primary Seven classes. “We make inspections every three months. On every inspection we have been reminding them, very few have complied. On December 12 we wrote a letter directing them not to open for the next term,” Mr Bakeine said.
Some of the affected schools have been operating in makeshift structures made of mats and papyrus.
The education officer said the closure at the beginning of the school year calendar will enable parents to take children to licensed schools, but noted that most parents have a belief that private schools teach better than the UPE institutions. He said whoever reopens the affected schools will be arrested.
Mr Bakeine added that they have not flouted any process in closing the schools because “the schools should after all not be in operation.” “Today (Tuesday we began moving around, we will not allow any of them to open,” Mr Bakeine said.
Some parents took their children to the schools on Monday only to find them deserted. “I took my children to school only to find there were no teachers and the administrators had not told us that they were closing. I I don’t know where I will take these children now,” said Mr Gilbert Atwebembeire, a parent.
Little time
Some of the administrators of the affected schools claim they were not given adequate time to register with the ministry. “You can’t now register a school that is not there, the time they gave us was not enough to complete the process. They should allow us open and give us more time,” said the Rev. Yosam Kakizire of Kagugu CoU Primary School.
Ms Peace Kaconco, the LC5 councillor for Rubaare and Rugarama Sub-counties, said closure of the schools was a right move. “Most of these schools are operating in very poor conditions. There would be a question mark if they were not closed,” she said.
