Five Mukono schools shut over poor standards

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Education authorities in Mukono District have closed five schools in Nakisunga Sub-county following an inspection that exposed: poor sanitation, overcrowded classrooms, and a lack of qualified teachers, raising fresh concerns about the safety and welfare of learners in privately run institutions.

The inspection team, led by the Mukono District Inspector of Schools, Isaac Gasujja, comprised of local government officials and police, targeted schools suspected of operating below the minimum standards set by the Ministry of Education and Sports.

By the end of the exercise, officials had ordered the closure of five schools, namely: Kateente Orthodox Secondary School, Divan Secondary School, School Tourist Gamba Primary School, Excel Kindergarten and Primary School plus Viema Junior School. The closure affects 350 pupils.

At Viema Junior School, the inspectors found pupils living in what they called “deplorable circumstances,” with some children sleeping directly on the floor due to a lack of proper bedding. The few mattresses available were dirty and worn out, while classrooms lacked sufficient desks and chairs.

In some cases, two classes were reportedly sharing the same classroom space, raising concerns about congestion and the quality of learning. Authorities also discovered that several teachers at the inspected schools lacked the required academic and professional qualifications to teach.

Officials said the conditions were so disturbing that some members of the inspection team struggled to contain their emotions.

“We found children studying and living in extremely poor conditions that cannot be tolerated in a school environment,” one official involved in the operation said.

He narrated that,  "we found pupils draining the water that had seeped into their dormitories in an attempt to prevent flooding in their sleeping areas. Some windows in the dormitory had been crudely supported with sticks to prevent them from collapsing.  Some students also revealed that they are forced to “rent” space from fellow pupils in order to find a place to sleep.

The head teacher of Viema Junior School declined to speak to the media but confirmed that the school had already been closed by authorities. He said the institution had only started operations earlier this year.

Addressing the learners, District Inspector of Schools Isaac Gasujja instructed the pupils to return home immediately, explaining that the school would remain closed until it meets the required standards.

Officials estimated that the school had more than 100 pupils at the time of the inspection.

The team later proceeded to Excel Kindergarten and Primary School in Namayuba, where they discovered similar violations.

The school was closed after inspectors found inadequate sanitation facilities that forced pupils to relieve themselves in nearby bushes. Classrooms were also overcrowded, with the school reportedly accommodating over 280 pupils.

The proprietors of the affected schools are required to fulfil the requirements to operate the school before reopening.

Upon reporting to the inspector's office for verification, the must have are: an operation license/Provisional license, Adequate clean toilet facilities, adequate qualified teachers, adequate furnished classrooms and a license to operate a boarding section.

News of the closures sparked concern among some parents, who appealed to the government to intervene.

Several parents argued that many low-cost private schools provide the only affordable education option for families who cannot afford the fees charged by larger, well-established schools.

“We request the President to help us because these schools are the only ones we can afford,” one parent said.

However, Nassali Lilian, the head teacher of Excel Kindergarten and Primary School, criticised the decision to shut down the school immediately.

She argued that inspectors should have first guided school administrators on the improvements needed to meet the required standards rather than resorting to closures.

“They should first advise us on what needs to be improved so that we can correct it. Parents have already paid their school fees, and now we don’t know what will happen to them,” she said.

Esteriko Kyegombe, the Community Development Officer (CDO) for Nakisunga Sub-county, defended the decision to close the schools, saying authorities cannot allow children to study in unsafe and unhygienic environments.

“We cannot accept such conditions in schools where children are supposed to learn and grow safely,” Kyegombe said.

She urged all private school proprietors in the area to ensure they meet the required standards before admitting learners.

The operation is part of a wider effort by Mukono District authorities to crack down on unlicensed and substandard schools as the new academic year begins.

Officials say more inspections will continue across the district to ensure that all learning institutions comply with national education standards.