Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Nabbanja Robinah issued a stern warning in Nakaseke to teachers in government-aided schools, cautioning them against acquiring multiple loans. She stated that such practices could lead to government intervention, potentially resulting in a ban on such arrangements. Nabbanja highlighted concerns that some teachers, fearing arrest by money lenders, neglect their duties of attending to pupils and students while in class.
According to the 2023 report by the Ministry of Education and Sports, more than half of all Ugandan schools witness the absence of at least three out of five teachers. This absenteeism, Nabbanja emphasized, contradicts one of the core principles of the NRM – Patriotism. She expressed hope that the introduction of the Teacher Effectiveness and Learner Achievement tracking system by the Ministry of Education and Sports will help address teacher and learner absenteeism effectively.
The Prime Minister delivered these remarks during a keynote address to Patriotism Coordinators in schools at the Oliver Tambo School of Leadership and Pan African Centre for Excellence in Kaweweta, Nakaseke District. This institution, named after South African freedom fighter Oliver Tambo, played a crucial role in training fighters during the struggle against the Apartheid regime. Nabbanja also warned head teachers in government schools about a potential policy to mandate them to enroll their children in the same schools where they are deployed, aiming to ensure quality education.
Expressing concern over head teachers opting for private schools over government ones for their children, Nabbanja emphasized the importance of maintaining quality education standards. She asserted that having head teachers’ children attend the same schools where they teach could ensure the enforcement of educational quality.
The Prime Minister stressed that teachers failing to meet expectations pose a threat of corruption and subversion to Uganda. She cautioned head teachers against charging school fees in government schools, citing such fees as barriers to education for children unable to afford them.
Nabbanja’s keynote address covered various aspects of government policy on education, including providing school lunch for pupils and students, addressing illegal charges in government-aided schools, supporting teenage mothers to remain in school, combating teacher absenteeism, and advocating for every child’s right to access and stay in school.
The training session, attended by approximately 170 head teachers and Patriotism coordinators, also featured an address by Prof. Waswa Balunywa, the former Head of Makerere University Business School (MUBS), focusing on mindset change.
