Over 2,500 volunteer teachers cry foul over external recruitment
Some of the disgruntled head teachers of seed secondary schools speak to journalists in Kampala on January 9. Photo | Busein Samilu
What you need to know:
- Mr Musa Wanambwa, Head Teacher of Lwasso Seed Secondary School in Mbale, warned that the recruitment process will lead to the loss of continuous assessment records and project marks for learners.
Over 2,500 teachers and head teachers who have been volunteering in about 76 seed secondary schools across Uganda are crying foul over the government's recruitment process. They claim that the ongoing open recruitment is unfair, subjecting them to external competition.
"We have been serving in these schools voluntarily without pay for the last seven years, hoping that when recruitment time comes, we would be considered first," said Stanley Ochom, chairperson of the disgruntled teachers. "But to our dismay, the ministry issued external adverts, subjecting us to competition. We think this should be revised, and priority given to us."
The affected seed secondary schools, under the second phase of the Uganda Intergovernmental Fiscal Transfers Program (UGIFT), host over 10,000 learners nationwide. Ochom expressed concern that these learners, from humble backgrounds, will not have alternative schools until the UGIFT phase 2 schools are operationalised.
Mr Musa Wanambwa, Head Teacher of Lwasso Seed Secondary School in Mbale, warned that the recruitment process will lead to the loss of continuous assessment records and project marks for learners.
"This will greatly affect their progression to the next class," he said. "UNEB has set a deadline of January 31, 2025, for submission of CA and project marks. Who will make these submissions in these seed schools?"
Another head teacher, Moses Sisye of Muhula Seed Secondary School in Butaleja District, foresaw vandalism of school structures if the process continues.
"Some of these seed schools have high enrollments and have occupied newly constructed structures. If they disband, these structures will be vandalised," he said.
The government announced the recruitment of teachers in these secondary schools in November last year to address the wide teacher gaps. Ochom appealed to the Education Service Commission to reconsider its approach and prioritise the original staff.
"The ministry should provide guidance on the way forward as we look forward to the opening of the first term in 2025," he said.
