By Jamila Kemigisa
Bunyangabu District is facing critical challenges in its primary education sector, with a low completion rate and a shortage of qualified teachers threatening the quality of learning.
According to Stephen Mukugize, the District Inspector of Schools, only about 56% of learners complete the full seven-year cycle from Primary One to Primary Seven. He attributes this worrying trend to high poverty levels, negative attitudes toward education from both parents and learners, and the lure of child labour in boda boda riding and shamba work. These factors have led many children to drop out before reaching Primary Seven.
The district hosts 120 private schools and 61 government-funded schools, but the education sector is struggling with an acute shortage of trained teachers. The closure of primary teacher colleges, which previously trained Senior Four graduates, has further worsened the situation. With the new requirement that these colleges only admit those upgrading to Grade Five and nursery teachers, the number of trained primary school teachers has declined. As a result, many private schools resort to hiring unqualified personnel, as they cannot afford the salaries of certified teachers.
Mukugize emphasizes that under the Education Act, only licensed and registered teachers should be allowed to teach. Employing unqualified teachers is an offense punishable by law, yet financial constraints continue to push schools to make compromises that could affect learning outcomes.
While the overall teacher-to-student ratio in Bunyangabu’s government schools technically meets national standards, the uneven distribution of teachers poses a significant challenge. Some schools suffer acute shortages, particularly as teachers nearing retirement request transfers to their home districts, while others with chronic illnesses cannot be relocated. Schools like Kyamatanga Primary School and Rwimi Primary School each lack four teachers, while Kaguma Primary School is short by five. However, more populated institutions, such as Kibiito Primary School, are better staffed.
A primary school teacher who requested anonymity highlighted another issue: the expectation that teachers should handle all subjects without specialization. However, poor deployment of headteachers has led some educators to believe they can specialize, creating additional staffing gaps. He urged parents to work closely with parent-teacher associations (PTAs) to explore hiring additional teachers where necessary.
Education stakeholders in Bunyangabu District continue to call for urgent government intervention to address these pressing issues. Without a strategic solution to the teacher shortage and low completion rate, the future of many children in the district remains uncertain.
