Masaka City authorities have issued a circular condemning 160 schools and prohibiting them from resuming operations next month. The circular, written by Stephen Kakeeto, the Masaka City Education Officer, declares these schools illegal and states that they are not allowed to open for classes when the first term commences on February 5th.
The list of condemned schools includes 117 nursery schools, 38 private primary schools, and 5 private secondary schools found operating illegally in both Kimanya-Kabonera and Nyendo Mukungwe city divisions. Proprietors of these schools have received warning notices preventing them from opening and admitting students.
The circular cites that the affected schools fail to meet the basic requirements and minimum indicators for educational institutions as mandated by the Ministry of Education and Sports. Among the deficiencies are a lack of qualified teachers, standard classroom spaces, furniture, and basic sanitary facilities, posing serious health risks to learners.
Many of the condemned schools were found operating in wooden makeshift shades or squeezed into people’s homes, creating an unconducive learning environment. During inspection tours, it was discovered that some schools had hired primary seven and secondary school dropouts as teachers, compromising the quality of education.
Kakeeto notes that warnings were issued earlier to the administrators of these schools to rectify the issues, but they remained non-compliant, necessitating the decision to bar them from reopening. He emphasizes that this action is taken for the safety of the learners and to ensure the quality of education. Any school defying the order will face arrest and prosecution.
The circular also lists 119 private primary schools, 46 private secondary schools, and 79 nursery schools that have met the set education standards. Parents are advised to enroll their children only in schools that meet the requirements to avoid potential losses.
Latifah Nansamba, the Secretary General of the Association of Private Schools Proprietors in Masaka, expressed surprise at the list of condemned schools. She advocates for helping these schools gradually improve to meet required standards rather than shutting them down abruptly, highlighting their contribution to the country’s general education sector.
