Probe on ghosts in schools begins
Dec 19, 2009
THE Government has instituted a judicial commission to investigate the utilisation of funds in primary and secondary schools. The Commission will probe the existence of ghost teachers and students in all the Government schools around the country, accordin
By Conan Businge
THE Government has instituted a judicial commission to investigate the utilisation of funds in primary and secondary schools. The Commission will probe the existence of ghost teachers and students in all the Government schools around the country, according to the terms of reference.
The process of disbursing education funds to the districts and schools, including its use and adequacy, will be investigated. Investigations will also stretch into the causes of absenteeism, and the utilisation of funds in the construction of Government schools.
The probe team will also investigate private schools suspected of using fake licenses. The commission was constituted on the orders of President Yoweri Museveni.
The commission will be headed by a judge of the High Court, Justice Ezekiel Muhanguzi. He will be deputised by Dr. Rose Nassali. Keturah Katunguka will be secretary to the committee, which also has Lawrence Mukiibi and Eng. Patrick Batumbya.
The probe comes after the Government realised that many ‘ghost’ pupils and students were in schools’ registers in various schools all over the country, and that the Government and donor funds were being misappropriated. The quality of education in Government schools has been found wanting in the last one decade.
In a rapid head count earlier this year, the education ministry established that the number of pupils listed in primary school registers was 25% higher than those actually studying.
According to the education ministry permanent secretary, Francis Lubanga, “this implies there are ghost pupils and students in several schools.â€
Similarly, the report established that the number of students in lower secondary schools was exaggerated by 12%.
For example, Amaji Primary School in Oyam district, with an enrolment of 816 pupils, could not account for 302 of them. In Pubidhi Primary School in Nebbi district, out of its 334 pupils on the register, 96 of them were thought to be ghosts.
THE Government has instituted a judicial commission to investigate the utilisation of funds in primary and secondary schools. The Commission will probe the existence of ghost teachers and students in all the Government schools around the country, according to the terms of reference.
The process of disbursing education funds to the districts and schools, including its use and adequacy, will be investigated. Investigations will also stretch into the causes of absenteeism, and the utilisation of funds in the construction of Government schools.
The probe team will also investigate private schools suspected of using fake licenses. The commission was constituted on the orders of President Yoweri Museveni.
The commission will be headed by a judge of the High Court, Justice Ezekiel Muhanguzi. He will be deputised by Dr. Rose Nassali. Keturah Katunguka will be secretary to the committee, which also has Lawrence Mukiibi and Eng. Patrick Batumbya.
The probe comes after the Government realised that many ‘ghost’ pupils and students were in schools’ registers in various schools all over the country, and that the Government and donor funds were being misappropriated. The quality of education in Government schools has been found wanting in the last one decade.
In a rapid head count earlier this year, the education ministry established that the number of pupils listed in primary school registers was 25% higher than those actually studying.
According to the education ministry permanent secretary, Francis Lubanga, “this implies there are ghost pupils and students in several schools.â€
Similarly, the report established that the number of students in lower secondary schools was exaggerated by 12%.
For example, Amaji Primary School in Oyam district, with an enrolment of 816 pupils, could not account for 302 of them. In Pubidhi Primary School in Nebbi district, out of its 334 pupils on the register, 96 of them were thought to be ghosts.