Uganda National Teachers Union- UNATU is up in arms against Frank Ntaho, the Kabale Chief Administrative Officer for threatening to suspend 27 head teachers. It follows their refusal to administer joint end of term examinations in their schools. According to Ntaho, Kabale district council resolved to conduct joint end of term examinations in all schools in a bid to improve educational performance.
However, the implicated head teachers declined to administer the examinations in their school citing the heavy costs involved. Philbert Baguma, the South West Coordinator of Uganda National Teachers Union-UNATU explains that the head teachers declined to administer the joint examinations when they found them more expensive. He says that the head teachers realized spending money on the examinations would force them to spend all the monies affecting their school operations.
Baguma says writing joint exams is a good idea, when it is well organized but is opposed to the idea of mobilizing resources from head teachers who are finding a huge burden to operate their school because of limited funds available.
//Cue in; “Doing Uniform exams ............
Cue out.............Difficult situations:”//
He says that following the threats of being suspended, the head teachers are now scared of explaining why they prefer to access the examinations from other suppliers because they are the mercy of the CAO. He advises the district to meet the cost of printing the examinations and mobilize funds from parents towards the education of their children.
//Cue in: “Districts Used to ................
Cue out...under which they are working:”//
One of the affected head teachers, who spoke to URN on condition of anonymity, accuses the authorities of focusing on the financial gains from the venture for their own benefits. He says the officials want to control the exams and hire a contractor who will work with them at the expense of the schools and pupils.
Emmanuel Kaguliro Nizeyimana, Kabale District Education officer says that the idea of sitting joint examinations was mooted to improve the performance of the district in the Primary Leaving Examinations. He says that some head teachers have been buying sets of examinations that they would write for pupils on the chalk boards, while others would buy substandard examinations.
He insists that the decision of the district council should be respected because it was taken in the best interest of the people of the district. Frank Ntaho, the Kabale Chief Administrative Officer says he will enforce the decision to conduct joint examinations, adding that head teachers who oppose it should prepare to face disciplinary action. He said there is need for the head teachers to stop thinking as individuals and embrace ideas aimed at improving educational performance in the district.
