Mpigi probes three teachers over absconding from duty, hiring mercenaries
“I would like to re-echo the concern from the community of Kasozi. We have a government primary school in our area, but there is a serious challenge in the school administration. Teachers have run away from the station and hired villagers to teach on their behalf. These teachers share their salary with these hired villagers; we ask the district leadership to look into our concern,” Kabugo said.
Simon Peter Kawuki remarks during the community baraza meeting organised by the district leadership. (Credit: Simon Ssekidde)
MPIGI - The authorities in Mpigi district are investigating Primary School teachers in government-aided schools for absconding from duty and illegally contracting unqualified individuals to teach on their behalf while continuing to collect public salaries.
The teachers under investigation are attached to Kasozi Noor Islamic Primary School, located in Kituntu sub-county, Mpigi district. The three teachers are said to have abandoned their station, hiring local villagers to fill their positions.
This was revealed during a community baraza meeting organised by the district leadership, led by the chairperson, Simon Peter Kawuki and the office of the RDC and other local leaders and the community of Kituntu sub-county, in Mpigi district.
The issue was first raised by the local leaders from various villages and parishes located in Kituntu sub-county, Mpigi district, in a closed-door meeting at Kituntu sub-county council hall.
“I would like to re-echo the concern from the community of Kasozi. We have a government primary school in our area, but there is a serious challenge in the school administration.
Teachers have run away from the station and hired villagers to teach on their behalf. These teachers share their salary with these hired villagers; we ask the district leadership to look into our concern,” Kabugo said.
During a community baraza engagement meeting in Bukasa parish, the local leaders cited the same challenge.
They urged the authorities to step in and take action against these errant teachers who absconded from duty about two years ago and instead hired non-professionals to teach in a government school on their behalf.
Magrete Ssenyondo, a resident of Ssenyondo village in Kituntu sub-county, said the continued absenteeism of these teachers from their workstation has greatly impacted the performance of their children.
A cross section of some of the local leaders and Community members who attended the community Baraza meeting. (Credit: Simon Ssekidde)
She called upon the district Chairperson, Simon Peter Kawuki and other authorities to rein in and take action against these teachers and also get rid of the unprofessional hired villagers from teaching their children.
The authorities also heard that Njeru Church of Uganda Primary School, in Kituntu sub-county, has no toilet facilities after the latrine which the teachers shared with pupils filled up.
Ramathan Ssekandi, a male councillor representing Kituntu Sub County at Mpigi district local council, said that, with just a few weeks to the opening of the new term, the school has not got a new latrine, and this has put the lives of the children and teachers at the school at risk.
“This is a serious concern. Leaving children and their teachers with no place of convenience will raise a serious sanitation emergency, and this means children will resort to open defecation,” Ssekandi said.
Residents also complained about the high, exorbitant fees charged by some Government schools in the area, which have left many children in school-going years not able to attain education.