Ministry Suspends All District Exams
Feb 01, 2004
THE government has suspended district examinations for the new school term that opens on February 2. District exams are usually set by District Examination Committees for both primary and secondary schools.
By Maurice Okore
THE government has suspended district examinations for the new school term that opens on February 2. District exams are usually set by District Examination Committees for both primary and secondary schools.
Francis Lubanga, the Education Permanent Secretary (PS) announced the suspension of the exams over the weekend of January 25 and he immediately instructed all District Education Officers (DEOs) and Inspectors of Schools to comply.
“We are concerned that each district has set up an examination committee which sets district wide examinations termly and also sets mock examinations. Investigations by the IGG have revealed that the system has been abused. Funds have been embezzled,†Lubanga said at the annual secondary schools headteachers workshop at Nile Hotel in Kampala.
“The professional leadership of the Ministry have also questioned the usefulness of these examinations either in assessing learning achievements or providing diagnostic education audits.
“In the meantime, I ask all DEOs, DIS and chairpersons of district headteachers Associations to suspend district exams until the director of education issues a circular. In any case, no district wide examinations should be held in the first term of this year,†the PS cautioned.
Lubanga has also asked the Director of Education to convene a meeting to be attended by the chiefs of UNEB, the National Curriculum Development Centre (NCDC), the Education Standard Agency (ESA), DEOs and Inspectors of Schools to consider whether or not the phenomena of district exams should continue. However, Lubanga has also directed government secondary school headteachers running private schools to quit public service.
He said that the IGG recommended that headteachers who own schools should retire from government service and concentrate on their schools.
“The Inspectorate of Government has issued reports indicating that many of you run your own schools. As you know, the leadership factor is important for all organisations. A headteacher who cheats a school where he is employed to lead and teach is a liability to the public education system,†the PS added.
Ends
THE government has suspended district examinations for the new school term that opens on February 2. District exams are usually set by District Examination Committees for both primary and secondary schools.
Francis Lubanga, the Education Permanent Secretary (PS) announced the suspension of the exams over the weekend of January 25 and he immediately instructed all District Education Officers (DEOs) and Inspectors of Schools to comply.
“We are concerned that each district has set up an examination committee which sets district wide examinations termly and also sets mock examinations. Investigations by the IGG have revealed that the system has been abused. Funds have been embezzled,†Lubanga said at the annual secondary schools headteachers workshop at Nile Hotel in Kampala.
“The professional leadership of the Ministry have also questioned the usefulness of these examinations either in assessing learning achievements or providing diagnostic education audits.
“In the meantime, I ask all DEOs, DIS and chairpersons of district headteachers Associations to suspend district exams until the director of education issues a circular. In any case, no district wide examinations should be held in the first term of this year,†the PS cautioned.
Lubanga has also asked the Director of Education to convene a meeting to be attended by the chiefs of UNEB, the National Curriculum Development Centre (NCDC), the Education Standard Agency (ESA), DEOs and Inspectors of Schools to consider whether or not the phenomena of district exams should continue. However, Lubanga has also directed government secondary school headteachers running private schools to quit public service.
He said that the IGG recommended that headteachers who own schools should retire from government service and concentrate on their schools.
“The Inspectorate of Government has issued reports indicating that many of you run your own schools. As you know, the leadership factor is important for all organisations. A headteacher who cheats a school where he is employed to lead and teach is a liability to the public education system,†the PS added.
Ends