By Aggrey BabaClose to one million students in Uganda could be kicked out of school after government revealed plans to close over 2,400 private secondary schools that are operating without licenses.
According to a circular issued by the Ministry of Education and Sports, 2,476 private schools registered on the Education Information Management System (EMIS), an online platform, but are not officially recognised by the ministry, yet the Education Act of 2008 requires every secondary school to be registered with the ministry before it can be allowed to operate.
This means that these schools have been teaching learners illegally, and worse still, many do not have UNEB centre numbers. As a result, they shift their candidates to other schools during national exams, a practice that the Ministry of Education says is unacceptable.
Each of the affected schools has about 400 students, bringing the total number of learners in danger to around 990,400.
Dr Dennis Mugimba, spokesperson for the Ministry’s spokesperson said the move is aimed at ensuring quality education for all learners in the country, explaining that the ministry has been calling on private schools for years to register properly and meet the minimum standards, but many have ignored the call.
“This is about protecting learners. Schools must be registered and meet the required standards before admitting students,” Mugimba said, adding that before any school is closed, the list will be taken to the ministry’s top management, headed by the First Lady and Minister of Education, Janet Museveni, for guidance, after which, the ministry will then work with local government officials such as Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs) and town clerks to enforce the closures.
Some district officials say they are still waiting for formal communication, like letters asking them to close any schools but will act in line with the law once instructed.
Several school owners are asking the Ministry to give them more time, arguing that closing schools in the middle of the term will cause confusion, especially in areas that do not have public secondary schools.
According to the ministry, 3,382 schools are still using old or expired registration certificates. These schools were told to hand in the old documents and apply for new ones.
Under the current system, private schools must renew their registration every five years, unlike before when one certificate lasted a lifetime. Schools that relocate or open new branches must also apply afresh.
Unless quick action is taken, thousands of students may soon find themselves locked out of school, not because of poor performance, but because their schools failed to comply with government regulations. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
