Museveni’s advisor tells schools to focus on quality education and shun media publicity

Last Updated on: 11th October 2023, 09:40 pm

Jinja I Senior Presidential Advisor on Poverty Alleviation in charge of Busoga Florence Mutyabule has stressed the importance of increased access to education which she says must be supported with quality and retention of learners in the education cycle.

“…it’s not enough to send children to school merely to learn how to read and write their names and speak a few English language as some people think and believe…,” she stresses.

With many great schools like Busoga College Mwiri, Jinja College, Kiira College Butiiki, Iganga Girls, Budiini Girls, Wanyange Girls, Kamuli Girls, Iganga Boys, Mwiri Boys Primary School, St Patrick Kigulu Girls and Buckley High School, among others, Mutyabule says Busoga has no excuse as far as education is concerned.

Other big-name and affordable schools include Jinja SS with more than 3,000 students, Jinja Progressive Academy (JIPRA), Jinja Central Primary School, Victoria Nile Primary School and Good Heart, among others.

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Mutayabule pointed out that apart from the government through the Ministry of Education and Sports, Busoga Kingdom under the Kyabazinga HRH William Wilberforce Kadhumbula Nadiope Gabula IV together with faith bodies like Jinja and Busoga Dioceses plus the Muslim fraternity and gallant educationists, are doing everything to boost education in the region.

She also conveyed her success message to PLE, UCE and UACE candidates whose final examinations kick off with a briefing of senior four candidates this Friday 13 October, thereafter the first papers to be written beginning on Monday, October 16.

Wishing the candidates the best of luck and God’s blessings, Mutyabule, a retired head teacher who for years steered the Iganga-based Church of Uganda founded Buckley High School, asked the stakeholders to avoid issues that can distract the candidates during this critical period.

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“…issues like tuition fees balance and other undelivered requirements should have really been sorted earlier between the school and particular parents or guardians instead of sending away the candidates…” she appealed.

She also cautioned head teachers of government-aided and directors of private schools against examination malpractices in the name of cheap popularity which have always ended up ruining the future of the children.

There have been instances where some head teachers want to appear in the media in a scheme dubbed: “Operation Front Page” depicting the schools being rated as top performers with super grades to get more children.

“…in most cases, these students with super grades always fail to defend their marks and end up in frustration because their marks were not genuine, so simply prepare the learners…,” she counselled.

According to a roadmap released by the examinations governing body –Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB), PLE candidates will write their papers from 8-9^th November while senior six start theirs on 11 November up to December 1, 2023.

UNEB has revealed that a total of 1,224,371 candidates have registered to do examinations at 20,921 centres countrywide. These include 749,471 candidates for PLE, 364,421 candidates for UCE and 110,579 candidates for UACE.