Pupils stranded as officials close schools

More than 1,000 pupils are stranded in Mbale District following the closure of 75 private schools after they were found operating below minimum standards of operation.
The schools were closed on Monday during an operation conducted by the district leadership in conjunction with the police.
It was headed by the Mbale chief administrative officer, Ms Roseline Adongo Luhoni.

Some of the schools closed include, two Bridge International Primary Schools, Nakaloke Topcare Primary School, Victoria College schools. Others were Kenna Mary Nursery and Primary school, Modern Primary School and Kilulu Muslim Primary School.
At the affected schools, pupils were found attending lessons in dilapidated structures while in other schools there was poor hygiene as most of the schools had no pit-latrines.

Closure
While addressing pupils and teachers at Victoria College Schools, Ms Adongo said: “We cannot have schools with no latrines for both pupils and teachers operating. The affected schools will remain closed until further notice because we cannot allow you to continue operating in such dire environment.”
She explained that schools have for long failed to meet the ministry of Education’s standards on sanitation and building structures, among others.

Ms Adongo said some of the schools have employed untrained teachers. “We have had several meetings with the owners and administrators of education institutions since 2016 to date but they have continued to operate not in accordance with the Education Act,” Ms Adongo.
Mbale Resident District Commissioner James Shilaku, said private schools must get licenses before they start operating.

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