Edward Bindhe
03:34

Masaka Teachers Protest Delay in UPE Funds

4 Mar 2010, 15:09 2257 Views Masaka, Uganda News Report
Teachers at government-funded schools in Masaka have threatened to go on strike because of delays in the disbursement of funds to run the schools. Funds for Universal Primary Education have not been given to the schools since the term begun a year ago. The Masaka District Education Officer, Francis Ssekadu, says the district urgently needs 300 million shillings to buy textbooks, scholastic material and food for the 354 schools under the program. Ssekadu says the Ministry of Education and Sports has not offered and explanation for the delay. He too is at a loss to explain it because his department fulfilled its terms for receipt of the disbursement by accounting for all money given last year. Under Universal Primary Education government pays 6,000 shillings for each pupil in public primary schools. Emmanuel Namugera, Deputy Headmaster of Bulwadda Church of Uganda Primary School, says the lack of funds has crippled them. He says that without the most basic books and learning materials, teachers are demoralized and pupils are not receiving the full benefit of their education. //Cue in: "We are lacking ..." Cue out: "... concern."// Last year, Masaka district experienced similar delays. The money was finally disbursed after the third term ended.

 

Tagged with: upe teaching ministry of education education

About the author

Edward Bindhe
Bindhe prides himself on being a part of the society he writes about. He believes there is no way a journalist can understand his society unless it considers him a part of it. This is why he is dedicated to investigating the challenges of the "little person."

Bindhe says, "My work reflects the Uganda Radio Network unique approach to news." Not many Ugandan journalists would consider or even notice the re-emergence of Water Hyacinth on a lake. Bindhe does.

Truant children will attract Bindhe's attention until he gets to the bottom of their truancy: poverty and the need to work to earn bread for their families. These are the kinds of stories Bindhe is often after.

Edward Bindhe is the Masaka URN bureau chief. Rakai, Lwengo, Lyantonde, Kalangala, Mpigi, Kalungu, Bukomansimbi and Sembabule districts fall under his docket. He has been a URN staff member since 2009.

A Mass Communication graduate from Uganda Christian University, Bindhe started practising journalism in 2008 as a reporter for Radio Buddu in Masaka district.