Last week, the education ministry officials appeared before the parliamentary education committee to respond to concerns about the recent closure of schools.
The MPs appeared to be concerned that the ministry had closed down several private schools for failing to meet education standards. However, in the ensuing dialogue, the MPs were more concerned that the private schools had been closed rather than demanding that all schools meet the same standards.
This prompted a sharp response from the general secretary of the Uganda National Teachers’ Union, James Tweheyo, who blasted MPs for blocking the ministry’s ongoing closure of illegal schools.
Tweheyo argued that MPs were pushing for selfish interests in their constituencies and neglecting to provide Uganda’s children with a better education. Tweheyo, who has been at the forefront of criticizing the ministry for allowing low standards, found himself supporting the sector’s push to ensure all illegal schools are closed.
His argument should have been the House’s position – that all schools should adhere to the highest standards of excellence.
It is also our considered view that the ministry is doing a commendable duty by shutting down unlicensed schools, and also pushing local governments to be more stringent against the owners of such institutions, from setting up poor excuses for learning centres.
Parliament should be riled that anyone in Uganda can be allowed to conduct learning in ramshackle circumstances. Stories of learners sitting on stones to learn, while worrying about how harsh the weather is, should be a mark of the past. Every school needs to meet a high standard.
And parliament should be the best advocate in this regard.
school@observer.ug