Apac Headteachers get smartphones to monitor Teacher’s efficiency at school

7 March 2023, 10:18 am

By; Mike Okwang Ogule & Daniel Odongo

Ministry of Education and Sports embarked on the rollout of the “Teacher Effectiveness and Learner’s Achievement Program” (TELA) throughout the country, it started last year with Eastern Uganda and its currently being rolled out in Northern Uganda.

The program that involves giving out smartphones fully fixed with two customized sim cards of Airtel and MTN to headteachers was able to benefit Apac school heads in an exercise which took place yesterday 06^th March 2023 at Scouts Hall Apac Town.

Mr Mose Opio the Apac Municipal senior inspector of schools welcomed the development saying it’s highly advantageous since it will aid them and the line Ministry in monitoring of teacher’s performances while learners are retained at schools effectively.

Opio adds that the gadgets will also help them display both arrival and signing out of teachers from class and school since every lesson will be captured, he however warned headteachers against turning the phone for personal use instead to have gazette points accessible by all the teachers in their respective schools.

The project coordinator for Apac Municipality, Mr. Isaac Oding notes that the initative aims at addressing irregularity within education system as it will inform the ministry in making follow-ups on the key issues that may arise from these learning institutions.

Mr Oding adds that the system is linked directly to the  Ministry of Education and Sports and will always expose cases of absenteeism and the rate at which syllabus is being covered per School.

Meanwhile the Apac District assistant focal point person for the Teacher effectiveness and learners achievement project, Mr Joshua Otyama notes that the project will also address gaps including learners and teacher absenteeism as well as coordinating the roles of school management.

Apac Municipality received a total of 16 smartphones while Apac District  was able to get 54, Both Secondary and primary Schools benefited making a total of 70 smartphones given to schools across the district.

According to the system, on arrival one has to capture his or her face and it is saved automatically in the phone where it is sent to the ministry instantly.

The Senior Education officer Apac, Mr. Patrick Ocen acknowledged that the machine will help in monitoring of lesson attendance and scheme of work by teachers from morning to 5pm urging that its has come in right time when some teachers have become more difficult to handle.

Mr. Ocen adds that the gadgets will as well control and reduce on cases of absenteeism and also improve on the performance since teachers will have enough time to stay in school.

He however tasked teachers to be very committed adding that those who will not perform well risk not being paid since government is now geared towards value for money.

Though many schools received the gadgets, some including, Apele, Ayago, Apac seed secondary and all annex primary schools did not get, however, authority promised to make follow-ups with the ministry.

In the same exercise, Headteachers were taken through introduction on how to operate the application with reading manual a head of full training to use these smartphones.