Ssembabule UPE schools lack teachers
Jan 27, 2009
UNIVERSAL Primary Education (UPE) schools in Ssembabaule may not open for next term because of an acute shortage of teachers.
By Dismus Buryegyeya
UNIVERSAL Primary Education (UPE) schools in Ssembabaule may not open for next term because of an acute shortage of teachers.
The education officer, Gertrude Lubega, said the district faced a shortage of over 700 teachers.
She said the crisis had been caused by the lack of a district service commission for the last 42 months.
Lubega regretted that political wrangles had prevented the recruitment of teachers for the UPE schools.
She said over 350 UPE teachers in Ssembabule lost their jobs during the restructuring exercise.
“Many teachers were found with fake academic qualifications, while others were Senior four and six leavers,†Lubega said.
The office of the Inspector General of Government discovered many teachers with fake academic papers and recommended their expulsion but the majority of the culprits fled the district before they could be sacked.
Lubega said over 40 teachers left their jobs and went to work in Iraq while 31 teachers had died.
“There are schools where a head teacher serves as the class teacher for several classes,†she said.
However, the LC5 chairperson, Herman Ssentongo, blamed the shortage on Lubega saying she was involved in politics.
“It is because of Lubega that our teachers have been running away from their jobs, she should stop interfering in politics since she is a civil servant,†he said.
Ssentongo said a district service commission would soon be put in place.
The residents district commissioner, Sserwano Kabogorwa, said the education and health departments were understaffed because there was no district service commission.
The chief administrative officer, Robert Twesigye said some councillors wanted a district service commission hired from elsewhere.
“But it is an expensive venture to hire a district service commission, it can take over a month to complete the work load,†he noted.
UNIVERSAL Primary Education (UPE) schools in Ssembabaule may not open for next term because of an acute shortage of teachers.
The education officer, Gertrude Lubega, said the district faced a shortage of over 700 teachers.
She said the crisis had been caused by the lack of a district service commission for the last 42 months.
Lubega regretted that political wrangles had prevented the recruitment of teachers for the UPE schools.
She said over 350 UPE teachers in Ssembabule lost their jobs during the restructuring exercise.
“Many teachers were found with fake academic qualifications, while others were Senior four and six leavers,†Lubega said.
The office of the Inspector General of Government discovered many teachers with fake academic papers and recommended their expulsion but the majority of the culprits fled the district before they could be sacked.
Lubega said over 40 teachers left their jobs and went to work in Iraq while 31 teachers had died.
“There are schools where a head teacher serves as the class teacher for several classes,†she said.
However, the LC5 chairperson, Herman Ssentongo, blamed the shortage on Lubega saying she was involved in politics.
“It is because of Lubega that our teachers have been running away from their jobs, she should stop interfering in politics since she is a civil servant,†he said.
Ssentongo said a district service commission would soon be put in place.
The residents district commissioner, Sserwano Kabogorwa, said the education and health departments were understaffed because there was no district service commission.
The chief administrative officer, Robert Twesigye said some councillors wanted a district service commission hired from elsewhere.
“But it is an expensive venture to hire a district service commission, it can take over a month to complete the work load,†he noted.