Makubuya announces transfers of school heads

By Ebenezer T. BifubyekaHEADTEACHERS who have served in a school for more than eight years are to be transferred in a bid to improve school standards, the education and sports minister has said.Dr. Khiddu Makubuya said, “If you receive a transfer letter from the ministry anytime from now, don’t be shocked. This is not a punishment but a step to increase on headteachers’ and teachers’ efficiency.”Makubuya said he did not want excuses from parents that “This headmaster has been good and hardworking, therefore he doesn’t deserve transfer!”“Suppose that headmaster was to die?” he asked, causing applause from the big audience at a sh428.8m ground-breaking ceremony for the Crichton Memorial Communications Centre at Ntare School near Mbarara town.The centre is to be funded by the Government.Makubuya said the Government had approved a project of establishing a large day secondary school and a polytechnic college in every sub-county. He said in Mbarara, a pilot polytechnic would be set up at Bwizibwera, Kashari.“The Government has set aside sh510m to finance the bursary scheme in secondary schools in the country this financial year,” Makubuya said in his one-hour speech. He said two students from every sub-county would benefit from the scheme this academic year but the local governments would contribute sh510m as commitment fees.Makubuya said the Government had finished rehabilitating 34 secondary schools in Uganda with 21 of them in Mbarara district. “More 103 secondary schools are to be aided this financial year and 14 of these will be selected from Mbarara,” he said.The district education secretary, Emmanuel Turyamureeba, said the Government recently donated sh3b to rehabilitate and expand Bishop Stuart College, Kibingo in Rwampara, Mbarara.