Seninde tells Bridge pupils to join UPE Schools

State minister for primary education, Rosemary Seninde. Photo/File

The state minister for primary education Rosemary Seninde has advised parents who had children in Bridge schools to transfer them to Universal Primary Education (UPE) schools.

"They should go and study in UPE schools," she said.

Speaking to the media after a hand over ceremony of Uganda Parliamentary Forum on Quality Education (UPE-QE) members at Parliament on Friday, Seninde said the government would not tolerant the unsuitable health and safety conditions in Bridge schools.

"They should go and study in UPE schools," she said .

She explained that the schools will not be opened until they meet the minimum education standard as set in the Education Act though a recent court petition allowed the schools to re-open.

She said parents were paying school fees using mobile money which is against the normal methods of bank slips.

She also castigated the schools for charging fees above sh70,000 although they promote themselves as charity organizations.

She said people should not comprise the education standards on the basis of poor infrastructure in UPE schools, noting that government was improving on the infrastructure.

Margaret Rwabushaija the new chairperson UPE-QE concurred with Seninde. A teacher herself, Rwabushaija told New Vision that she had raised concerns about lack of registration by Bridge Schools, quality of teachers and issues with the curriculum on the floor of Parliament in July.

"Only one in Kumi district of about 60 in the country was found to have registered with the Ministry of Education," she said.

Bridge schools are a consortium of schools in Uganda, Kenya and Nigeria. The schools were closed by a court this month.

Seninde also handed over power of UPE-QE to the new leadership that includes: Margaret Rwabushaija chairperson UPE-QE, John Twesigye Ntamuhiira vice chairperson, Molly Lanyero secretary, Pius Wakabi treasurer and Sarah Nakawunde publicity.

Robinah Nabanja, a commissioner in Parliament who represented the Speaker Rebecca Kadaga, the guest of honour called for an education system that promotes peace and tolerance if the country is to achieve development.

Seninde asked the new members to advocate for quality education.