Authorities call for naming and shaming of poor performing schools

4 July 2026, 2:08 pm

By Geoffrey Okwong

Authorities in Pader District have called for the introduction of a system to publicly recognize high-performing schools while holding underperforming ones accountable, saying the move would improve education standards and strengthen accountability among headteachers.

Speaking during her closing remarks at the Children’s Parliament organised by SOS Children’s Villages Uganda in partnership with Pader District Local Government, Joyce Anek Ongee, the Principle Assistant Secretary who represented the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), said schools should be assessed individually, with outstanding performers rewarded through certificates, gifts or educational tours to motivate both teachers and learners.

She said schools that consistently perform poorly should also be publicly identified, with their headteachers required to account for the results before the district council.

Ongee added that the district could also use coordination meetings and local radio stations to publicly recognize outstanding schools while identifying underperforming ones as a way of promoting accountability and encouraging improvement.

Turning to the district’s education leadership, Ongee acknowledged concerns over weak supervision of teachers, noting that education officials had not been conducting regular inspections to ensure teachers report to duty on time, prepare schemes of work and lesson plans, and effectively deliver lessons.

Referring to the Assistant District Education Officer, who was present at the meeting, she called on the education department to strengthen supervision and monitoring of teachers to improve education standards across the district.

She also raised concern over growing cases of indiscipline among teachers, saying some resist transfers by refusing to report to their new duty stations, while others challenge deployment decisions in court after failing to meet the qualifications required for acting positions.

Ongee further lamented what she described as declining commitment to academic excellence among learners, contrasting the current situation with her own school experience.

She recalled that when she was in primary school, poor examination results were taken seriously and motivated learners to work harder, whereas today many children appear unconcerned even after performing poorly.

She urged parents, teachers, education officials and community leaders to work together to restore discipline, strengthen accountability and improve learning outcomes across schools in the district.

During the same meeting, Titus Okello, the Headteacher of Pader Kineni Primary School, reported a sharp decline in school enrolment after the first term, saying the trend affects almost all classes.

Okello explained that while enrolment is usually high at the beginning of the academic year, learner numbers drop significantly in subsequent terms as many parents prioritize agricultural activities over education and send their children to work in the gardens.

He also attributed the persistent school dropout rates to negative attitudes towards education among some parents and community members, noting that despite regular community sensitisation meetings, the challenge remains.

Okello appealed to pupils who participated in the Children’s Parliament to become ambassadors for education in their communities by encouraging their peers to remain in school and raising awareness among parents about the importance of education.