Avoid discrimination
Apr 03, 2007
A group of Muslims in Kayunga district have rejected the appointment of a non-Muslim headteacher for Namagabi UMEA primary school.
A group of Muslims in Kayunga district have rejected the appointment of a non-Muslim headteacher for Namagabi UMEA primary school.
While it has been a long tradition that religious-founded schools are headed by persons from particular faiths, it is high time that old and archaic tradition is broken. Several schools have gone down the drain because of the manner in which the headteachers or teachers are posted. Some schools have missed good administrators and teachers simply because a few radical parents or Board members sacrifice professionalism and quality education for the sake of faith.
The action of this group of Muslims in Kayunga is not only criminal but unconstitutional. Article 21 (2) of the Constitution states that a person shall not be discriminated against on the grounds of sex, race, colour, ethnic origin, tribe, creed or religion, socio-economic standing, political opinion or disability. It is against such a background that Article seven of the Constitution makes it clear that Uganda has no state religion.
While education in Uganda is a partnership between the government and faith-based organisations, this partnership should not be at the expense of quality and merit. The Ministry of Education and Sports is charged with ensuring the delivery of quality education and should not allow unconstitutional means to stand in its way.
The disgruntled Muslims in Namagabi should exercise restraint and first find out why the school Board accepted the appointment of a non-Muslim. Founding bodies usually chair the school Boards and are charged with giving policy direction to the school management.
While the Ministry of Education and Sports should as much as possible consult and encourage consensus in the appointment and transfer of teachers, those resisting the transfers must do so on strong grounds. The education sector has had several cases of teachers rejected. By rescinding the posting of teachers rejected on every flimsy ground, the Ministry is perpetuating discrimination and hence not helping the integration of this country.
While it has been a long tradition that religious-founded schools are headed by persons from particular faiths, it is high time that old and archaic tradition is broken. Several schools have gone down the drain because of the manner in which the headteachers or teachers are posted. Some schools have missed good administrators and teachers simply because a few radical parents or Board members sacrifice professionalism and quality education for the sake of faith.
The action of this group of Muslims in Kayunga is not only criminal but unconstitutional. Article 21 (2) of the Constitution states that a person shall not be discriminated against on the grounds of sex, race, colour, ethnic origin, tribe, creed or religion, socio-economic standing, political opinion or disability. It is against such a background that Article seven of the Constitution makes it clear that Uganda has no state religion.
While education in Uganda is a partnership between the government and faith-based organisations, this partnership should not be at the expense of quality and merit. The Ministry of Education and Sports is charged with ensuring the delivery of quality education and should not allow unconstitutional means to stand in its way.
The disgruntled Muslims in Namagabi should exercise restraint and first find out why the school Board accepted the appointment of a non-Muslim. Founding bodies usually chair the school Boards and are charged with giving policy direction to the school management.
While the Ministry of Education and Sports should as much as possible consult and encourage consensus in the appointment and transfer of teachers, those resisting the transfers must do so on strong grounds. The education sector has had several cases of teachers rejected. By rescinding the posting of teachers rejected on every flimsy ground, the Ministry is perpetuating discrimination and hence not helping the integration of this country.