Minister of education and sports urges private school owners to be more transparent for a better partnership

3 December 2024, 6:33 pm

By Ronald Ssemagonja

The Minister of Education and Sports who also doubles as the First Lady of Uganda, Hon. Janet Museveni, who was the guest of honour at the inaugural National High-Level Private Education Policy Dialogue at Green hill Academy Kibuli, asked school owners to be transparent in their work. “Be more transparent with the data of your schools such that planning for schools by government becomes easy.” she said.

She also confirmed the commitment by the ministry to help where need is required because the challenges affecting the sector should be resolved by both parties. “There’s need to solve issues and can’t be solved by Government alone. We need to work together. Don’t employ teachers who are on government payroll.” she said.

The minister went on to applaud the efforts of the current leadership. She confirmed that the event will be held every year to make sure that owners of private schools and government meet to find solutions to the challenges affecting the sector. “I call upon you as proprietors to be good teachers and consider yourselves as stewards who are given these young people to discipline them. Therefore, be mindful about what these learners get.” she said.

Additionally, the minister said there’s a need for the owners of private schools to move together with government emphasizing her statement, reading from the book of Amos 3:3 in the Bible which states that “How can two walk together unless they agreed.” “As the ministry of education and sports, we are open to dialogue.” She said. She concluded her address by thanking the owners of private schools for the initiative and wished them God’s blessings.

The permanent secretary of the same ministry, Ms. Turyagyenda Kedrace, in her submission, she mentioned the core values which should be maintained by the owners of private schools. “We need to make sure that we empower individuals, eradicate poverty, among others. By doing so, the mission of providing quality education and sports for all will be well catered for.

According to the permanent secretary, it is the education that develops the person to fit in the 21st century. “We expect the private Institutions to; adhere to the approved curriculum, committed to quality education for all learners regardless of their abilities and to always have a qualified staff” she stated.

She raised concern of need to be more focused on what is helpful to the learners. She also joined the minister in confirming the ministry’s commitment to work with the owners of private schools in the country for the better future of young people who are the majority according to the recent census results by Uganda Bureau of Statistics.

The event brought together proprietors of private schools and institutions to deliberate on key issues affecting the private education sector. However, some of the owners of private schools said that this was overdue, but they believe that it is a good start. They have requested the ministry to help them also to benefit from the funds from Uganda Development Bank.