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Wakiso district grapples with teacher shortage of in government-aided schools

18 October 2024, 10:52 am

District Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), Alfred Malinga.

By Nakkazi Mercy

Wakiso district is facing a shortage of 365 teachers in government-aided primary schools.

The district Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), Alfred Malinga, revealed to the media that Wakiso is experiencing a financial crisis that hinders the recruitment of more teachers to address the state of education in the district. He noted that the Ministry of Labor “has not responded to our request” prompting the district council to discuss how they will address the educational challenges in Wakiso.

Alfred Malinga on the shortage teachers.

“The district is losing over 10 teachers every month, who are leaving due to poor working conditions in the schools,” Malinga noted.

Alfred Malinga on the poor working condition.

According to Bettinah Nantege, the Executive Vice Chairperson in Wakiso district, the Ministry of Education in Uganda is imposing too many conditions that are not favorable to teachers. Nantege attributed the high teacher turnover on these unfavourable conditions.

Bettinah Nantege, Executive Vice Chairperson, Wakiso

During the same council meeting held at the district headquarters in Wakiso, one of the districts forming part of Kampala metropolitan area, vice-speaker Isaac Muwonge, urged the Ministry of Education to prioritise recruiting more teachers in the district as a measure to save the collapsing Universal Primary Education (UPE) program. Some councillors from the subcounties of Bussi, Kasanje, Masulita, Namayumba and Mende presneted reports on the state of government schools in their respective areas, stating that some schools are in dire condition, with only three teachers managing a pupil enrollment of 600.

Isaac Muwonge’s view on few teachers.