2008 a year of school fires and strikes
THERE is nothing to smile about in the education sector. The year 2008 was fierce, as fires, fires and fires became the in-thing in schools. On one chilly morning in April, Uganda woke up to the shock that 20 children at Budo Junior School had been burnt to death, when a fire gutted their dormitory.
By Carol Natukunda
THERE is nothing to smile about in the education sector. The year 2008 was fierce, as fires, fires and fires became the in-thing in schools. On one chilly morning in April, Uganda woke up to the shock that 20 children at Budo Junior School had been burnt to death, when a fire gutted their dormitory. What could a mother do? What could a father say?
Tears, anger, and anguish hang in the air as parents of the deceased children sought justice – justice to make hearts feel lighter, even when nothing, would bring back these little innocent lives.
It was a public relations disaster for the education ministry and the school administration. No single explanation, whatsoever, justified the inferno. If anything, Ugandans were enraged that the institutions they had entrusted their children with were only dillydallying.
You had to see the manner in which President Yoweri Museveni sat on the verandah near the burnt Nassolo dormitory, painstakingly listening to the narration of a little girl who had survived the fire. “Tell me what you saw,†Museveni kept on asking the child, and after which he told the school authorities in an angry tone: “You can now see the consequences of lack of responsibility and duty consciousness… These were innocent children who had faith in you [school administrators] but you let them down." The scene was too grim for levity.
Understandably, the President also had no kind words for the education minister, Namirembe Bitamazire. "You (Bitamazire) are the quality controller and you should set the standards. If a school does not have the capacity, then why does it continue running a boarding section?" he wondered.
The irony is that the cause of the fire has never been established. However, Buganda Road Court has set January 20, 2009 to hear the case in which the former headmaster, William Kayongo, is accused of carelessness and negligence.
Kayongo, together with the matron of the ill fated Nassolo dormitory, Damalie Basirika and four guards will appear before court on the said date.
And just as the country was still trying to take it in, a spiral of fires sprung across Ugandan schools like there was no tomorrow. There were about 74 school fires reported in the subsequent five months.
Eventually, over 90 students were implicated, 49 of which were scheduled to appear in court. Eight have been cleared, while the rest are still being investigated. Where as some people claimed it was copycat arson, perhaps, someone needed to hear the children’s views – why would they burn their own dormitories and property?
And while tempers were ably contained in all these instances, Kyambogo University knew better than to hold its anger.
The university was closed for two months following a sit-down strike by the lecturers who accused management of unfairly slashing their salaries. Two weeks later, the striking lecturers were joined by their students.
On February 9, the University Council decided to close the campus and gave students two hours to vacate the premises. It was until mid June, that the university re-opened for business.
But even as it opened, there was no hope for a new Vice Chancellor. The post fell vacant in August 2007 after the University Council terminated the contract of then Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Lutalo Bbosa. This was on the recommendation of a cabinet sub-committee that investigated the cause of strikes and unrest at the institution.
The committee found out that Bbosa had been irregularly appointed to the top administrative job. He had also been accused of corruption, sectarianism, insensitivity, favoritism and arrogance. The lecturers refused to work and demanded Bbosa’s sacking.
For a whole year, the university had no replacement, until recently when Prof. Isaiah Omolo Ndiege was announced as the new Vice Chancellor.
The controversy though, was not so much of a one-off. In fact, the University has had tensions since 2001 when three institutions were merged to form the university. These were the Institute of Teacher Education Kyambogo, the Kyambogo Polytechnic and the Uganda National Institute of Special Education.
Perhaps the most surprising news of the year was that Makerere University was conspicuously quiet. Somehow, the 86-year old institution is always in the spotlight, as students oppose the fees increment, or lecturers protest the little pay. This time, however, there were only rumours of a pending strike by lecturers.
Perhaps the rioters were scared, following the suspension of senior lecturer and academic staff association chairman Dr. Augustus Nuwagaba over alleged insubordination and negligence. Nuwagaba, the chairman of Makerere University Academic Staff Association (MUASA) was accused of failing to submit reports for “numerous†postgraduate students to the school of postgraduate studies and disrespecting the university managers.
But Nuwagaba insisted that the university officials were only witch-hunting him because of his role in MUASA’s struggle over low pay. The academic staff association, under Nuwagaba’s leadership, was at loggerheads with the university administration. It, in the recent past, organised a number of strikes, including one in November 2006 that resulted into the closure of the university for over two months.
But someone needs to seriously rescue of this once ‘Havard University of Africa’. Makerere dropped further in the 2008 ranking of Africa’s top universities - to the 59th position from January when it was number 47.
Academics at the institution attributed the fall to congestion and failure to embrace Information Communication Technology in research. This was a big setback for Makerere, given its improvement in 2007, from the 54th position to 47th. When the rankings were first published in 2004, Makerere was at the 18th position. It slipped to 23rd in 2005 and 24th in 2006.
Far from being a terrifying year, it seems a brighter future especially for the higher education institutions. The Government announced plans to introduce a loan scheme in 2009 to help poor students pay for their university education. Under the scheme, the Government will pay fees for poor students, who will pay back when they start working.
Talking of university fees, President Museveni’s proposal that foreign students should pay the same amount of fees as the nationals met stiff resistance from several members of the public. But the country was left in suspense; it is not clear or not the proposal will be effected.
Also, the Government launched a double shift system of schooling to cope with the high numbers of students.
Under the policy, all schools with more than 60 students in a stream will use double shifts. With over 350,000 students under Universal Secondary Education (USE), it was inevitable for the Government to implement the policy to decongest the secondary school.32 secondary schools under USE had started the double shift system. And as the year ended, everybody was suddenly on their toes.
For the first time in ages, the school inspectors were starting to bite. Several schools were given a three months ultimatum in which to install the minimum security standards to safeguard against fires. Those who will not have complied by the beginning of next term will be closed. Only, then, perhaps, will we be able to have a fire-free year in our schools.
TIPS FOR PARENTS
If you are a parent with a child who was a ring leader in the strike or was a suspect in burning his or her school, you know what it means to be confused. Here are a few tips on how to deal with the situation:
Accept the situation and face it head-on. Just because you have submissive children doesn't mean every child of yours will behave the same way.
Understand that turning the problem around will take time. Practice patience everyday as you talk to him or her. Don’t jump into yelling everyday.
Do not feel intimidated by your child. How many times have you changed your mind on a penalty after your defiant child pesters you about your ways of disciplining him? By wavering on your decisions, you are giving your child the chance to repeat what he did.
Spend time with your child to remove a sense of insecurity. You don't have to plan activities for the day just taking your child along when you run errands or allowing him
Talk to your child and help him or her understand what you expect. Examine your own behavior first so that he or she knows you are a good role model. Be firm in disciplining your child and let them know that there boundaries that they have to observe.
Listen to them. Let him explain or tell you why he behaves the way he does.
Explain clearly the dangers of his behaviour – such as being arrested and destroying their career. Restrain yourself from exaggerating the dangers of his behaviour when wrought with anger.
Set reasonable punishments that get results.
It’s important for you to monitor how your child responds to your authority.
Seek professional counseling
SCHOOLS AFFECTED BY FIRES
April7 — St Savio Junior P/S mukono
April 14 — Budo Junior School
April 17 —Grace Day PS Kampala
May 9 — Trinity High School Lugoba
May25 — Nsamo mixed PS
May29 — Matengeto Parents Rakai
June 2 — Moroto High School Mukono
June3 — New Grace nursery PS Iganga
June4 — Kibibi Model PS Mpigi
June6 — Saad Memoria HS Kasese
June 6 — Molly and Paul PS Kibuye
June8 — Buyanja PS Mpigi
June 9 — Kebisoni Modern SS Rukungiri
June9 — Blessed Parents SS Rukungiri
June 11 — Nama;e;e Girls’ Kagoma
June15 — Sunset Junior SS
June16 — Sydney PS Kinoni
June17 — Kyambogo University hostel
June18 — Kibibi Model day and boarding Mpigi
June20 — Rock High School Tororo
June 25 — Lubani SS Jinja
June 26 — Kampala United PS Wakaliga
June 28 — Seeta High School Mukono
June 30 — Progressive Senior SS Kitintale Kampala
July2 — Mid care Parents’ Busega
July3 — Migadde College School
THERE is nothing to smile about in the education sector. The year 2008 was fierce, as fires, fires and fires became the in-thing in schools. On one chilly morning in April, Uganda woke up to the shock that 20 children at Budo Junior School had been burnt to death, when a fire gutted their dormitory. What could a mother do? What could a father say?
Tears, anger, and anguish hang in the air as parents of the deceased children sought justice – justice to make hearts feel lighter, even when nothing, would bring back these little innocent lives.
It was a public relations disaster for the education ministry and the school administration. No single explanation, whatsoever, justified the inferno. If anything, Ugandans were enraged that the institutions they had entrusted their children with were only dillydallying.
You had to see the manner in which President Yoweri Museveni sat on the verandah near the burnt Nassolo dormitory, painstakingly listening to the narration of a little girl who had survived the fire. “Tell me what you saw,†Museveni kept on asking the child, and after which he told the school authorities in an angry tone: “You can now see the consequences of lack of responsibility and duty consciousness… These were innocent children who had faith in you [school administrators] but you let them down." The scene was too grim for levity.
Understandably, the President also had no kind words for the education minister, Namirembe Bitamazire. "You (Bitamazire) are the quality controller and you should set the standards. If a school does not have the capacity, then why does it continue running a boarding section?" he wondered.
The irony is that the cause of the fire has never been established. However, Buganda Road Court has set January 20, 2009 to hear the case in which the former headmaster, William Kayongo, is accused of carelessness and negligence.
Kayongo, together with the matron of the ill fated Nassolo dormitory, Damalie Basirika and four guards will appear before court on the said date.
And just as the country was still trying to take it in, a spiral of fires sprung across Ugandan schools like there was no tomorrow. There were about 74 school fires reported in the subsequent five months.
Eventually, over 90 students were implicated, 49 of which were scheduled to appear in court. Eight have been cleared, while the rest are still being investigated. Where as some people claimed it was copycat arson, perhaps, someone needed to hear the children’s views – why would they burn their own dormitories and property?
And while tempers were ably contained in all these instances, Kyambogo University knew better than to hold its anger.
The university was closed for two months following a sit-down strike by the lecturers who accused management of unfairly slashing their salaries. Two weeks later, the striking lecturers were joined by their students.
On February 9, the University Council decided to close the campus and gave students two hours to vacate the premises. It was until mid June, that the university re-opened for business.
But even as it opened, there was no hope for a new Vice Chancellor. The post fell vacant in August 2007 after the University Council terminated the contract of then Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Lutalo Bbosa. This was on the recommendation of a cabinet sub-committee that investigated the cause of strikes and unrest at the institution.
The committee found out that Bbosa had been irregularly appointed to the top administrative job. He had also been accused of corruption, sectarianism, insensitivity, favoritism and arrogance. The lecturers refused to work and demanded Bbosa’s sacking.
For a whole year, the university had no replacement, until recently when Prof. Isaiah Omolo Ndiege was announced as the new Vice Chancellor.
The controversy though, was not so much of a one-off. In fact, the University has had tensions since 2001 when three institutions were merged to form the university. These were the Institute of Teacher Education Kyambogo, the Kyambogo Polytechnic and the Uganda National Institute of Special Education.
Perhaps the most surprising news of the year was that Makerere University was conspicuously quiet. Somehow, the 86-year old institution is always in the spotlight, as students oppose the fees increment, or lecturers protest the little pay. This time, however, there were only rumours of a pending strike by lecturers.
Perhaps the rioters were scared, following the suspension of senior lecturer and academic staff association chairman Dr. Augustus Nuwagaba over alleged insubordination and negligence. Nuwagaba, the chairman of Makerere University Academic Staff Association (MUASA) was accused of failing to submit reports for “numerous†postgraduate students to the school of postgraduate studies and disrespecting the university managers.
But Nuwagaba insisted that the university officials were only witch-hunting him because of his role in MUASA’s struggle over low pay. The academic staff association, under Nuwagaba’s leadership, was at loggerheads with the university administration. It, in the recent past, organised a number of strikes, including one in November 2006 that resulted into the closure of the university for over two months.
But someone needs to seriously rescue of this once ‘Havard University of Africa’. Makerere dropped further in the 2008 ranking of Africa’s top universities - to the 59th position from January when it was number 47.
Academics at the institution attributed the fall to congestion and failure to embrace Information Communication Technology in research. This was a big setback for Makerere, given its improvement in 2007, from the 54th position to 47th. When the rankings were first published in 2004, Makerere was at the 18th position. It slipped to 23rd in 2005 and 24th in 2006.
Far from being a terrifying year, it seems a brighter future especially for the higher education institutions. The Government announced plans to introduce a loan scheme in 2009 to help poor students pay for their university education. Under the scheme, the Government will pay fees for poor students, who will pay back when they start working.
Talking of university fees, President Museveni’s proposal that foreign students should pay the same amount of fees as the nationals met stiff resistance from several members of the public. But the country was left in suspense; it is not clear or not the proposal will be effected.
Also, the Government launched a double shift system of schooling to cope with the high numbers of students.
Under the policy, all schools with more than 60 students in a stream will use double shifts. With over 350,000 students under Universal Secondary Education (USE), it was inevitable for the Government to implement the policy to decongest the secondary school.32 secondary schools under USE had started the double shift system. And as the year ended, everybody was suddenly on their toes.
For the first time in ages, the school inspectors were starting to bite. Several schools were given a three months ultimatum in which to install the minimum security standards to safeguard against fires. Those who will not have complied by the beginning of next term will be closed. Only, then, perhaps, will we be able to have a fire-free year in our schools.
TIPS FOR PARENTS
If you are a parent with a child who was a ring leader in the strike or was a suspect in burning his or her school, you know what it means to be confused. Here are a few tips on how to deal with the situation:
Accept the situation and face it head-on. Just because you have submissive children doesn't mean every child of yours will behave the same way.
Understand that turning the problem around will take time. Practice patience everyday as you talk to him or her. Don’t jump into yelling everyday.
Do not feel intimidated by your child. How many times have you changed your mind on a penalty after your defiant child pesters you about your ways of disciplining him? By wavering on your decisions, you are giving your child the chance to repeat what he did.
Spend time with your child to remove a sense of insecurity. You don't have to plan activities for the day just taking your child along when you run errands or allowing him
Talk to your child and help him or her understand what you expect. Examine your own behavior first so that he or she knows you are a good role model. Be firm in disciplining your child and let them know that there boundaries that they have to observe.
Listen to them. Let him explain or tell you why he behaves the way he does.
Explain clearly the dangers of his behaviour – such as being arrested and destroying their career. Restrain yourself from exaggerating the dangers of his behaviour when wrought with anger.
Set reasonable punishments that get results.
It’s important for you to monitor how your child responds to your authority.
Seek professional counseling
SCHOOLS AFFECTED BY FIRES
April7 — St Savio Junior P/S mukono
April 14 — Budo Junior School
April 17 —Grace Day PS Kampala
May 9 — Trinity High School Lugoba
May25 — Nsamo mixed PS
May29 — Matengeto Parents Rakai
June 2 — Moroto High School Mukono
June3 — New Grace nursery PS Iganga
June4 — Kibibi Model PS Mpigi
June6 — Saad Memoria HS Kasese
June 6 — Molly and Paul PS Kibuye
June8 — Buyanja PS Mpigi
June 9 — Kebisoni Modern SS Rukungiri
June9 — Blessed Parents SS Rukungiri
June 11 — Nama;e;e Girls’ Kagoma
June15 — Sunset Junior SS
June16 — Sydney PS Kinoni
June17 — Kyambogo University hostel
June18 — Kibibi Model day and boarding Mpigi
June20 — Rock High School Tororo
June 25 — Lubani SS Jinja
June 26 — Kampala United PS Wakaliga
June 28 — Seeta High School Mukono
June 30 — Progressive Senior SS Kitintale Kampala
July2 — Mid care Parents’ Busega
July3 — Migadde College School