Bridge Academies asked to reimburse learners' school fees

Uganda National Teacher's Union (UNATU) and 15 Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) have welcomed the government's decision to close Bridge International Academies (BIAs) in Uganda.

In a statement issued on Thursday, UNATU said it supported the action because it protects the learners whose future was in total jeopardy.

The BIAs were closed recently after Ministry of Education discovered that their education services were substandard and wanting.

UNATU noted that BIAs non-conformity to national curriculum, use of unqualified teachers including P7 dropouts and poor infrastructure were putting the lives of the learners in danger.

"We should not compromise our learners' future with the excuse of saving the income and profit of those paid to promote BIAs," UNATU said. "Our learners deserve better."

An investigation carried out by the Ministry of Education before closing BIAs indicated that BIAs structures constructed with timber and iron-sheets as walls were substandard.

The investigation also found out that the schools had inadequate water, dysfunctional hand-washing facilities and general poor sanitation.

"There seemed to be a hidden plan by proprietors of BIAs to dismantle the public education system in Uganda to turn it into a for- profit education which in the end would disadvantage the poor," UNATU noted.

"But dismantling the public education system would undermine Uganda's efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 4 that aims at ensuring all boys and girls have access to quality education without any encumbrances," the statement said.

 Pupils Bridge International Academies demonstrate over the closure of their schools recently

NGOs demands

Meanwhile, 15 NGOs in their statement appealed to government to ensure a timely and orderly transfer of learners from the BIAs to other schools.

The NGOs including ActionAid, Global Campaign for Education; and Initiative for Economic and Social Rights (ISER) also asked government to ensure minimum loss of instructional time during the transfer process.

"It is critical that no child is deprived of access to education due to school closure," their statement said.

By the time, government closed the BIAs; they had established 63 branches in the country and enrolled over 10,000 learners.

The NGO also called on BIA investors to ensure that they immediately comply with the law and remedy parents, children and other stakeholders by reimbursing school dues where the victims have withdrawn from the schools.

They also asked Kenya to emulate Ugandan in dealing with BIAs which have faced similar challenges in the country.

Abraham Ochieng, from the East African Centre for Human Rights (EACHRights) based in Kenya said they hoped the process in Kenya will lead to Bridge Academies either respecting the national standards of the country or closing.

Reports suggest there are over 400 BIAs in Kenya and that the Kenyan Ministry of Education has held several meetings with them to comply with the regulations but apparently without success.

BIA is an American based company registered in Delaware. The company runs a commercial, private chain of nursery and primary schools.

With over 400 institutions and 100,000 children enrolled in BIA schools, it's the largest chain of commercial private schools worldwide.

BIA receives funding from several large corporations, investors and development partners including the Omidyar Network founded by the billionaire creator of eBay, Pearson (the world's largest educational business), Novastar Ventures, Kholsa Ventures, philanthropist Bill Gates, Facebook founder's Zuckerberg Education Ventures, the International Finance Corporation (a branch of the World Bank Group), the UK's Commonwealth Development Corporation (with funds from the Department for International Development - DFID) and the Overseas Private Investment Corporation.

Sunday Vision broke the news of BIAs ordeals in Uganda in June.