Pupils, parents caught up in Bridge schools-gov’t legal battle

Parents whose children are enrolled at Bridge schools Uganda, formerly the Bridge International Academy are caught up in a legal war between the education Ministry and the school management.
For about three years now, the school has been embroiled in constant conflicts with the Ministry over quality of teaching and poor infrastructure in most of the branches across the country.

The disagreements threaten the future of close to 10.000 pupils enrolled in 63 branches across the country. All the branches have opened, contrary to the Ministry position that the schools will not open for this academic year until they are licensed.

The latest letter from the Ministry, issued by the Permanent Secretary (PS) Mr Alex Kakooza on 6th February 2018, a day after the opening of term one, states that “the schools are unlicensed and not authorized to operate.”

“Management of Bridge Schools (formerly Bridge International Academies) has embarked on an aggressive public and social media campaign aimed at hoodwinking unsuspecting parents about the status of the 63 Bridge Schools in Uganda. Please note that the Ministry has not yet licensed the Bridge Schools because they have not yet met the requirements to merit being licensed to operate in Uganda,” the letter reads in part.

The Ministry also issued a list of requirements which it said the branches have failed to comply with, rendering their activities illegal.
“These concerns, together with the resolution of Parliament to halt Bridge International Academy (BIA)’s activities pending comprehensive investigations, included: Safety and security of pupils; failure to meet the requirements for Bridge Schools to be licensed as international schools including submitting, a letter of accreditation from an international examining body confirming the curriculum to be offered; the letter of protocol from the relevant embassy; and a list of qualified teachers. These engagements culminated into face-to-face discussions with the Ministry on 8th August 2017 when preliminary findings on the above concerns were shared with Bridge representatives,” the letter continues.

Based on the above and a number of other issues, the government wrote to the school stating that the bridge schools and others that do not meet the minimum requirements would not be allowed to operate in 2018.
“Consequently, and consistent with the Ministry’s decision on the matter of all unlicensed schools, I wrote to BIA on 6th November 2017 stating that: … all unlicensed schools, including Bridge International Academies, will not be allowed to open and/or operate for school year 2018… This position was clearly put to you vide mine of 6th November 2017 and has not changed. This letter, therefore, serves to eliminate any doubt and accordingly advise that you follow up your application(s) for licensing with the relevant Ministry authorities…” the letter states.

The PS, in the letter states that the decision taken by the Ministry is in line with its mandate and will never yield to pressure from the schools until all the conditions are met.
“In view of the above, and specifically of the engagement between the Ministry of Education and Sports and Management of Bridge Schools, parents and indeed all concerned authorities are accordingly notified that Bridge Schools remain unlicensed and like all the others in this category, will not be permitted to open/operate this school year (2018). Failure to comply with the requirements of the Law, implies that parents and management of the Bridge Schools take full responsibility for the consequences of non-compliance,” the letter concludes.

Bridge Schools remain defiant
Despite the directives from the Ministry, the schools have remained open for this academic year. Branches in Arua, Wakiso and those in other regions have all opened, with teaching going on.

Farouk Andati, the branch manager in Bridge school Adalafu, located in River Oli division, Arua Municipality said they were operating normally. “We have no problems here. Our activities are running normally and pupils have reported to school,” he said when asked whether they had opened for this term. He said they had received licenses for 42 branches, including the Arua branch, contrary to what the Ministry says.

In response to the directive from the Ministry, the management of Bridge Schools in Uganda issued a release, disputing the claims by the Ministry that it had not met the minimum requirements for licensing.

The management, in a letter dated 6th February 2018, stated that it has complied with all the requirements for 42 branches across the country and have submitted it to the Ministry.
It also says they are in the process of submitting the form and requirements for the licensing of the 13 remaining branches which will be done in due course.
“We have 42 health inspection reports fully endorsed by districts. We have 42 architectural blueprints approved and corresponding occupation permits issued by District Physical Planning Committees all of them submitted to the Ministry of Education.” The statement reads.

However, officials from the school say their attempts to have the schools licensed have been frustrated by the officials from the Ministry who say they are under instruction not to license any of the branches.
“On diverse dates beginning 22nd of July 2016 Bridge proceeded to the Ministry to submit the applications for licensing but were turned away by the Officers insisting that they had no instructions to deal with Bridge applications. After further attempts and seeking intervention from the permanent secretary (PS) the applications were declined until the 25th of January 2017 when the Ministry received the first 28 applications for licensing duly endorsed and recommending licensing by the local governments. 14 more applications were submitted on the 19th of July 2017 bringing the total number to 42.”

The management of the schools says it is waiting for the response from the Education Ministry on the files submitted and is hopeful that they will be licensed.
“Bridge awaits independent responses from the Ministry on the 42 files submitted on case-by-case basis. We are confident that the Ministry will determine and approve each file based on its merits. We therefore remain open pending issuance of licenses by the Ministry,” the statement concludes.

Parents weigh in
Parents whose children study in the Bridge Schools say they are worried about the future of their children. Many are wondering why it has taken years for the two parties to agree.
Ibrahim Asega, a father of two pupils studying at Bridge School, Arua branch says the situation is not good. He says the school has been promising them that all is fine, but now he is wondering whether to take his children to a UPE school, or keep them there. “I have no problem if the school is licensed, I will keep my children here, but if they do not, I will pull them out.” He said on phone.

For Joyce Apayi Galumbe, the situation is confusing. She says the different messages passed by the education ministry officials and those from the bridge are not good for them. “My child is here in this school, the head master and his teachers tell us that the school is licensed yet the ministry says they are not. Last year our children were sent home because the school was closed. Now what do we do? She asked.
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