John Chrysostom Muyingo, the state Minister for Higher Education has warned head teachers against staging strike against the delayed disbursement of Universal Secondary Education funds. The warning comes after head teachers of private schools implementing USE in Masaka threatened to close their schools and dismiss students last because of the delayed release of funds. They also threatened to cancel the forthcoming end of first term examination arguing that they lack funds to print examinations and buy material for science practical.
Following the threats, Miyingo rushed to Masaka to dissuade the teachers from staging a strike. On Thursday, Muyingo met with some head teachers of the affected secondary school at Kako Secondary school in Masaka. Minister Muyingo pleaded with the head teachers to continue teaching students and give them exams saying the funds will be disbursed soon. He blamed the delay on the bureaucracy in the government systems but assured them their money will be given to them.
He accused the head teachers of politicizing the education services by planning to strike yet there are peaceful means of resolving the problem. Speaking to URN after the meeting, some head teachers expressed fear that the delay to disburse USE funds would sabotage education services. David Ssemussu Muyindo, the head teacher of Matale Church of Uganda Secondary School says the delay to disperse funds has affected the school teaching programs.
He claims that they are now stranded without key science apparatus to use because they have no funds to procure them. Ssemussu says they are now conducting practical is shifts because of lack enough apparatus which is affecting the syllabus.
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Abdul Kabugo, the Chairperson Masaka Private Schools Association implementing USE says they will convene another meeting to decide on whether or not proceed with the strike. Last year, over 150 private schools in greater Masaka region cancelled end of second term examinations and ordered the students to return home due to delayed funds.
