Government to carry out nation-wide school head count on Monday

Ministry of Education officials say the data will be used for planning.

KAMPALA

The government will on Monday start a national head-count to ascertain the number of students accessing free education in government-aided institutions.

The assistant commissioner in-charge of communication and information in the Ministry of Education, Mr Patrick Muinda, in an interview, explained that the information will be used by the government for planning purposes.
“The results will be used for the 2013/14 budget. It should be able to capture ‘ghost’ students and teachers who must be eliminated in the next financial year,” Mr Muinda said, adding that, “the exercise starts on March 18.”

Mr Francis Agula, the assistant commissioner for secondary education, said the exercise will be carried out by the ministry officials together with Internal Security Organisation and district officials. He urged school head teachers and principals to be present during the exercise and avail school registers to confirm attendance and admission books. Senior One and S5 students are expected to carry their PLE recommendation letters and UCE result slips respectively.

Mr Agula said the 2011 S4 leavers who could not continue with their studies could now enrol for the free A-Level scheme after the government considered them. The exercise will be carried out in about 1,500 schools implementing USE, technical and vocational education.

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