Education ministry transfers 1,276 teachers

Makerere College (18) had the highest number of teachers transferred. File photo

What you need to know:

Most of the affected teachers had either overstayed at their current stations, were under performing or had low workload.

KAMPALA

The ministry of Education has transferred at least 1,276 teachers across the country, according to a list seen by this newspaper.

Most of the affected teachers had either overstayed at their current stations, were performing below the expectations or had low workload. There are those who were transferred on request because of health conditions.

Makerere College (18) had the highest number of teachers transferred. Sources at the ministry, who spoke to Daily Monitor on condition of anonymity, said the massive transfers at the school were informed by last year’s strike where staff opposed the return of their interdicted head teacher, Ms Agnes Ssebayiga.

She was reinstated by the permanent secretary, Ms Rose Nassali Lukwango, pending investigations from the Inspector General of Government on allegations that the school’s academic performance had declined, obtained money from school through fraudulent means and awarded tenders to unqualified suppliers
King’s College, Budo (10) was second on the list of schools with the highest number of transfers. They have all worked at the station for more than 18 years. The ministry last year passed a policy that will block teachers from serving in one school for more than five years.

In other schools such as Kitende SS and Nakanyonyi SS, the transferred teachers were non-performers while others in schools such as Kigezi High school had low teaching load. A teacher is required to have a load of 24 lessons per week. When contacted, the acting commissioner secondary education, Mr Benson Kule, said the transfer is a normal routine that is conducted annually to allow effective teaching. He explained that the teachers will be expected to report at their new stations before the school term opens on February 2.

“The transferred teachers don’t need to travel to Kampala to pick their letters. We shall send them through their district chairpersons or head teachers’ associations. The letters will be ready by this Friday. This is to save them from spending money on transport and to start preparing to go to the new work stations,” Mr Kule said in an interview.