Parliament’s concern was sparked by a controversial move orchestrated by Ignatius Kiwanuka Koomu, the chairperson of Nakaseke District, who mandated primary teachers to undergo competency exams.
Under Koomu’s directive, 40 teachers from underperforming schools in the 2023 Primary Leaving Exams (PLE) were subjected to the P7 mock exam, raising eyebrows among lawmakers.
Allan Mayanja, the Nakaseke Central MP, shed light on the teachers’ discontent and uncertainty about their future during a plenary session on Friday.
“Some teachers feel disrespected and are anxious about what happens next. Will the District Service Commission or the Public Service Commission handle recommendations for their promotion or demotion?” questioned Mayanja.
The disparity in treatment compared to other districts prompted queries directed at the Ministry of Education and Sports.
Speaker Among called for swift government intervention, questioning the effectiveness of such methods in enhancing performance and highlighting underlying issues such as delayed teacher payments and lack of induction programs.
Assessing primary one and primary seven teachers with the same criteria was deemed unfair, with concerns raised about potential mass failures.
Asuman Basalirwa, MP for Bugiri Municipality, emphasized the autonomy of local governments to implement policies aimed at improving academic standards and urged the Education Ministry to enlighten the public on such matters.
Dickson Kateshumbwa, representing Sheema Municipality, lauded Koomu’s initiative, acknowledging the urgent need to address the deteriorating quality of Universal Primary Education (UPE) but also stressed the importance of dialogue to comprehend the root causes of poor performance.
Minister of State for Higher Education, John Chrysostom Muyingo, expressed his astonishment and dispatched an investigative team to Nakaseke District to evaluate the situation and provide a comprehensive report to the House.
