BY ZALIMON BASIGHALHA (GOOD LUCK)
The Ministry of ICT and National Guidance has revealed that government will continue arresting Head teachers of grant-aided primary and secondary schools who will involve themselves in acts related to chasing away learners for school fees.
The 2008 Education Act prohibits the payment of tuition fees at government or grant-aided primary schools. It specifies that while fees for midday meals are permissible, payment is optional and no child should be excluded from school for non-payment.
However, the Act has been violated by some Head teachers in Kasese district.
On October 02, this year, the Office of the Kasese Resident District Commissioner ordered for the arrest of Kirembe Primary School Head teacher, Ms Razia Pokopoko and her School Management Committee Chairperson, George Bwambale on allegations of violating the same act.
Last year, Mr. Selevano Kiribyunza, the Head teacher at Railway Primary School, Mr. Erisa Muhindo Mutungwanda, the Head teacher at Basecamp primary school and Remegio Thembo Ikwera, the Head teacher at Kasese Primary School were also arrested on the orders of the RDC because of allegedly chasing the learners from their respective institutions of learning for school fees.
Hon. Godfrey Baluku Kabbyanga Kiime, the Minister of State for ICT and National Guidance says government is not ready to stop arresting heads of government grant –aided institutions who will not comply to the directive.
Kabbyanga stresses that the Offices of the RDCs across the country will instead intensify the Presidential directive that prohibits government grant-aided schools from chasing learners over non -payment of fees.
He, however, clarifies that the government has advised RDCs to revise ways of arresting the culprits, advising Head teachers to directly deal with the parents and leave the learners in classes.
Kabbyanga’s comments are in response to a request by Rev. Can. Jane Janet Muhindo, the Chairperson Board of Governors at Kisinga Vocational Secondary School indicating that government should stop arresting of Head teachers but rather look for alternative means of punishing them.
According to Can. Muhindo, the act of arresting Head teachers in front of their learners becomes an embarrassment and degrades their integrity.
ENDS