Four head teachers arrested in Tororo for conducting illegal lessons

Tororo, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT  |  The police in Tororo district have arrested four primary school headteachers for conducting lessons for lower classes.  They were arrested on Tuesday during an operation by the Covid-19 District Task Force. 

They include Kulusum Ali of Star Light primary and Nursery school, Rose Ofwono, the headteacher of Special Plan Kindergarten daycare, the Prime View Primary School headteacher Emmanuel Edule and Rebecca Nandutu, the headteacher of Oguti primary school.   

Yahaya Were, the Tororo District Deputy RDC, says that they received reports about schools sneaking in learners from other classes, which is against the Ministry of Education and Health guidelines. 

In February, the Cabinet approved the reopening of schools in a “staggered manner” that will ensure compliance with Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs). All schools in the country were closed in March 2020 as a measure to control the spread of coronavirus (Covid-19) disease.  

The first phase of re-opening under this arrangement only targeted semi candidates (P.6, S3, and S.5) and the second targeted P.4, P.5 and S.1.

Were noted that besides conducting illegal lessons, the schools were not adhering to the covid-19 standard operating procedures- SOPs that include wearing face masks and observing social distance. 

Were, vowed to continue with the operation to crack down schools that are flouting the guidelines.

Last week, Dr Kedrace Tulyagenda, the director in charge of Education Standards, said that local governments through the education inspection unit and working with the area covid-19 task force are supposed to ensure that schools both private and the public don’t flout the set SOPs and school calendar.

*******

URN