Parliament protests gov't failure to halt new curriculum

PLENARY

Parliament recently protested against the failure of government to comply with its resolution calling for the halting of the implementation of the new curriculum for lower secondary.

The matter was resurrected by the Leader of Opposition Betty Aol Ocan who expressed disappointment that the executive had ignored the parliament resolution.

Nwoya woman MP Adongo Lilly told parliament that she had received reports from teachers that even those who are supposed to implement the new curriculum have many disagreements.

Lubaga North MP Moses Kasibante said, "There is a lot of belittling of parliament by the executive. The ministers and technocrats are all ignoring the concerns of parliament."

Ngora County MP James Abara said he had discovered that not all the schools in the country had their teachers trained.

Quoting article 79 of the constitution, Lwemiyaga County MP Theodore Ssekikubo said the government decision to ignore the parliament resolution is unconstitutional and an act of contempt of parliament.

Making reference to the Public Finance Management Act which puts the powers of appropriation of public funds, Ssekikubo wondered where the Ministry of Education will get the money to implement the new curriculum when parliament which allocates money has been ignored.

The Opposition Chief Whip Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda expressed dismay that the minister for education (Janet Museveni) is always sending her juniors to parliament on matters where her explanations are required.

Ssemujju suggested that the minister for education be sent to the Rules, Privileges, and Discipline Committee to be interrogated over what he called contempt of parliament.

 A visibly furious Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga wondered why government had ignored the parliament resolution yet it was based on so many concerns which were raised.

"We discussed here in public. Cabinet did not discuss in public like we did. We had legitimate questions. Members, if you have never exercised your powers, this time you have to do so in the budgeting process," Kadaga stated.

Petrified by the direction the debate was going, the Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda quickly stood up to save the situation with his pleas to the members to calm down.

"I have listened to the concerns by members and by the Speaker. I see explosive language being used. There is no need to light the fire. What parliament and the executive do is complementary work. Government will come and the position of cabinet will be explained," Rugunda explained.

The Speaker of Parliament directed that the minister for education presents a statement next week on Tuesday concerning the resolution parliament passed.

According to the National Curriculum Development Centre (NCDC), sh143.9b is required for the Ministry of Education to implement the new curriculum. The money was not budgeted for in the 2019/2020 national budget.