KAMPALA, Uganda—The Ministry of Education has maintained its stand on the closure of unlicensed schools cross the entire country.
In response to query raised by Kibuku County Member of Parliament, Herbert Kinobere about the same, and prayer that the closure of such schools be halted, in which the Speaker of Parliament Hon. Rebecca Kadaga asked the ministry to respond, the Ministry in response has maintained its position and declined to grant such a prayer.
“Contrary to the perception of my colleague who moved this question, the licensing of schools is proceeding smoothly and will help improve the Education standards of our country. May I therefore move that the prayer of the Honourable Member that the Ministry halts the closure of schools be declined, I so pray and submit,” John Chrysestom Muyingo, State Minister For Higher Education.
Giving background on how the Ministry took the decision to close unlicensed schools, Muyingo said on 28th November, 20l6, the Ministry had a meeting with all Inspectors and DEOs from all district and Municipal Authorities and agreed to put schools that were not licensed on notice and further agreed that they shall not open for term one of the year 2017.
He said unlicensed schools are operating illegally and posing serious safety and security concerns on the lives of the children.
In a letter date January 19, 2018; the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Education, Alex Kakooza issued a letter reminding Chief Administrative Officers, Town Clerks and the Executive Director Kampala Capital City Authority to ensure that unlicensed schools in Uganda do not open shop for first term in the new academic calendar year of 2018.
Kakooza said in his statement that the Ministry of Education has been struggling to improve the standards of education in the country and the closure of unlicensed schools is one of the ways the ministry is trying to streamline education service in Uganda and enforce standards.
The Ministry of Education and Sports late in 2017 instruction the close over 1,300 schools, this led to an uproar among different stakeholders including the Parliament with many condemning the actions of the Ministry of Education but the Ministry of Education has maintained it will not backtrack from its action.
