In 2019/20, Luwero District received over Shillings 2.1 billion from the Ministry of Education and Sports to cater for 230 schools. The district deposited the funds into school accounts for the purchase of instructional and scholastic materials, co-curricular activities, contingency expenditure, school management and administration.
Herbert Kigo, the Chairperson of Luwero District Finance Committee says that the district has since relocated its eight teachers together with some learners to the temporary structure at Kibanyi Church of Uganda to ensure that the community doesn’t lose the Universal Primary Education-UPE Programme.
Mulindwa said that the government took over Luwube Muslim Secondary School which was in existence and they agreed that it turns into a seed school but not rename it.
Gloria Namuli, the Deputy Headteacher of Kibose Church of Uganda Primary School, says that due to the fear of the sanctions, some headteachers may resort to examination malpractices to save their jobs.
Burton Bumba, the headteacher of Luwero Boys Primary School, says that before the COVID-19 induced lockdown, they had less than 1000 learners but their current enrollment stands at 1306 pupils.
The State Minister for Higher Education Dr. John Chrysestom Muyingo said that several SMCs and boards appointed by Churches are not functional because members have no background in the education sector
Hajji Abdul Noor Lwanga, the Headteacher of Target Community College in Wobulenzi town council explains that prior to the school closure, they had 768 students but their enrollment stands at 1011 learners.
The cases came up over the last two weeks since the reopening of schools as the government ended a 22-month long lockdown on educational institutions. But as schools re-open their gates, hundreds of learners are reported to be stuck in homes, with no fees or even money to clear the school requirements.
Several government-aided schools in Luwero, Masaka, Rakai, Mukono, Nakaseke, Gulu and Amolator, among other districts, are struggling with a very poor turn up of learners, many of them recording less than half of the student population they had before schools were closed on March 20, 2020.
Learners returned to schools on Monday, January 10, 2022, after 22 months of closure over the COVID 19 pandemic. However, many learners are still home as parents hustle to return their children over lack of fees and other requirements.
On Monday night, students of Bukalasa Agricultural College went on strike and threw stones in the compound in protest against sitting examinations without studies, sexual harassment, and poor sanitation among other complaints.
Learners, across the country, are returning to school this week after 22 months of shutdowns which were effected as one of the measures to control the spread of COVID-19. Although some learners were studying online during the time, many others, especially in rural areas have not had any interaction with a teacher since the closure in March 2020.
Daniel Ssajjabi the Chairperson of Luwero District Private Primary and Secondary Schools Association says that the affected schools were closed because some were being hosted in rental buildings and the directors were unable to pay arrears over prolonged lockdown.
In October last year, the Education Ministry released 50 percent of the first quarter capitation grant for all government-aided schools to help them prepare ahead of the scheduled January 10th reopening.
Fredson Kakooza Wilson, the LC 3 Chairperson of Nabiswera sub-county, says that they secured five acres of land at Kalwara village to relocate Moone Primary School to ensure the 265 learners continue with studies.
Ssentongo said that the current Pensioners’ Association has been asking retired teachers about 50,000 shillings before recommending them to access benefits something which is unfair and unnecessary.
Recently the Minister in charge of ICT and National Guidance, Dr. Chris Baryomunsi 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. But parents, headteachers and local leaders have asked the government not to abolish the PTA fees until it's able to fund the schools adequately.
Safe Spaces was launched after the March 2020 directive by President Yoweri Museveni to have all schools and learners sent home following the outbreak COVID 19. The pandemic has since ravaged economies across the globe and killed over five million people.
Julius Namansa, the Headteacher of Katikamu SDA SS says that the school will replace the learner’s property to enable them to continue learning since the damage wasn’t much.
Sheikh Ramadhan Mulindwa, the Luwero District Kadhi has confirmed receiving the notification from the DEO and directed Imams and country sheikhs to handle the nomination of SMC members at the 34 Muslim founded schools in the districts.
