35 Bugiri schools face closure over facilities

The fate of hundreds of children enrolled in 35 schools in Bugiri District hangs in balance after authorities said they would not be allowed to reopen for the new term, citing lack of facilities.
The District Inspector of Schools, Ms Aida Ajambo, told the Daily Monitor at the weekend that only 118 of the 153 private schools operating in the district meet the standards.

The schools, including nursery, primary and secondary schools, lack qualified teachers, permanent structures, toilet and sanitation facilities, text books and other instructional materials.
Others, Ms Ajambo said, have never been registered by the Ministry of Education and Sports.
“We have discovered that the directors of these schools opened up their schools without licences from the Ministry of Education and Sports,” she said.

Low standards
The schools’ inspector added that education standards in Bugiri had declined in the last five years because of the poor state of facilities.

Ms Ajambo said the education department would be working with the police to inspect and close down non-compliant schools before the academic year begins in February.

Mr Hakim Balikoowa, the head of the Parents Teachers Association of Riverside Junior Academy, however, said privately owned schools were even performing better than government-aided institutions.