Kabale Deputy RDC calls on Education policy Commission to include an idea of learners helping one another during exams in the new Policy.

By Alex Byakatonda

Communications officer-Kabale.

Education stakeholders in Kabale district are calling for increased funding for the education sector, in order to reduce on the challenges the sector is currently faced with.

The observations were made today during an education policy consultative meeting held at Kabale District Rukkiko hall. The meeting attracted members of Uganda education policy review commission and Kabale District stakeholders. The commission is in Kigezi and Ankole regions to seek for views from stakeholders as government seeks to generate a new Government White paper on Education and Sports which will reposition the country’s Education and Sports system to meet the needs and challenges of the 21st century.

According to the recently appointed Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Education, who was the team leader, Dr Kedress Turyagyenda, in 2021 the Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Kataaha Museveni constituted an Education Policy Review Commission, to investigate several issues in the Education and Sports Sector; generate recommendations and draft a White Paper (Macro Policy) framework for                    Education and Sports services.

Speaking during the meeting, several stakeholders raised numerous challenges affecting the education sector, including low funding, low pay for the teachers especially Arts teachers, inadequate accommodation, poor feeding, commercialization of the education sector and inadequate infrastructure in schools among others.

The Acting District Education Officer, Moses Tumwijukye, recommended for the introduction of school fees policy to regulate on private schools that have commercialized the sector. He also noted that government aided schools have failed to compete with private schools due to low government funding.

Tumwijukye added that the education is faced with teachers who are asking for early retirement, coupled limited infrastructure like inadequate desk, classrooms among others which he said is affecting the sector.

Speaking during the Kabale district Deputy RDC, Christopher Aine, recommended that the new policy should provide for leaners sharing ans helping each other during examinations, if the sector is to continue produce competent leaders. He added that the curriculum should allow learners to study what can benefit them in their communities instead of studying things that are not necessary and available in their communities.

ENDS