Kira MC set to enforce the Education Ministry guidelines on entertainment, election of students’ leaders and co-curricular.
Kira MC is set to enforce the Education Ministry guidelines on entertainment, election of students’ leaders and co-curricular.
Following public outcry on the extortion of parents by school owners and managers through organization of luxurious tours and parties and expensive school political campaigns where learners are supposed to spend much in order to be part of the activities the Ministry of Education recently came out with guidelines putting restriction on the practice for the safety of the learners.
In Circular No. 7/2025 captioned ‘Guidelines for the safe conduct of Entertainment and co-curricular Activities and Election of student leaders in pre- primary, primary and post primary schools and Institutions the Ministry of Education says that it has observed the growing exposure of learners to inappropriate, exploitative, and unsafe entertainment Co-curriculars and election of student leaders where incidents of vulgar performances, suggestive sexual content among others posing learners to risks in terms of morals and psychological contravening to the constitutional provisions regarding children education, Education Act Cap.247, Children Act Cap.62, and the Uganda National Child Policy, 2020 have been reported.
In the move to protect all the stakeholders the Ministry put in place the steps to be fulfilled at different levels for the functions to take place, differently from the old normal where schools have been deciding and acting without necessarily engaging all the stakeholders.
Presenting the new guidelines to the School Head Teachers who had gathered at Bweyogere C/U primary school for their usual beginning of term meeting
Mr. Micheal Senkusu- Municipal Education Officer said that many parents have been complaining of pressure exerted on them by schools through their children demanding for huge amounts of money for endless tours and trips both locally and abroad, expensive campaigns for prefectorial positions, prom Parties among others but as the Municipality they could not do much to address the matter without the guidance from the mother ministry given the fact that the majority of the parents who are capable of financing the events they were not considering those who may not be in position. “ Even though Education is seen as a service in the other perspective it’s a business and the one who advertise better or offering better in line with the interest of the clients is the one attracting more thus creating the survival for the fittest situation and there was no way we could handle such without a clear policy in place but having got the guidelines the playing ground is now clear to all stakeholders” he said adding that its now upon the stakeholders to play their part or be ready for the legal actions some of which may force them to lose their licenses.
Addressing head Teachers Ssenkusu said that the Department he is heading is ready to do the needful to endure that the guidelines are followed.
“Many complaints have been in place already and going on ground is just to monitor compliance and take action” he said.
He added on that many schools have been operating without fulfilling the necessary requirements for their operations and advised them to act now or quit the venture else the new guidelines will not leave a stone unturned.
Mr. William Bwambale the Head Teacher Bweyogerere C/U primary also the Chairperson Primary Head teachers in Kira Municipality and Wakiso District expressed his disappointment in the Schools’ reluctance in promotion of learners talents. “It’s so frustrating to see that many of us are now concentrating on ensure g that our learners get distinctions forgetting that co-curricular activities such as Music Dance and Drama (MDD) and sports can also open door to success for our children! Many children get distinctions in academics but due to financial related challenges fail to further their studies yet we see many joining secondary and Higher Institutions on bursaries just because of their talents. It’s time that we get off from the comfort zones and do all it takes to promote our learners talents not only for academic and other life opportunities but also for their health” said Bwambale.
Patricia Nampeera (Senior Inspector of Schools Kira Municipality, advised the head teachers to regularly monitor the attendance lists of both teachers and learners and make it a routine to follow up and appraise teachers and give them the necessary support in case of need for better performance. “Many of you as Head Teachers are concentrating on administrative work and do not go to class to teach but in case learners perform poorly eyes are not put on the teacher but rather to as the heads and therefore I advise you put your attention to your teams at all levels not just to wait for learners to be in their final class and start panicking. Such practice of waiting for the final hour is the cause of examination malpractice of which we all know the challenges associated to it” she warned.
Sylvia Nankabirwa, Inspector of Schools advised Parents and Directors of private Schools to ensure that their learners in candidate class get registered for the national Examination in time and verifications are made to avoid last minute depression. “On several occasions we see and hear on news children and parents crying for Head teachers taking off with the money corrected for learners’ registration. Surprising that such heartless Head teachers blindfold their school directors and other stakeholders that learners are registered and it’s on the examination day that the truth always come out when there is completely nothing can be done so save the situation. It’s my prayer that we all do our part, display the verification in time and if there happens to be such case of misbehavior (God forbid), the late registration window can be used in order not to have our children missing a year” she advised. #