BUTEBO– More than 1,000 Pupils in Butebo District are likely to get stranded after the education department has compiled a list of 27 out of the 57 privately–owned schools for closure after failing to meet the Ministry of Education laid down guidelines.
The operation comes after a ministry directive to clamp down on schools that have failed to formalize with the laid down requirements across the country.
Butebo District Education officer Chalaire Omagor, told PML Daily that several owners of the schools have failed to respond to the guidelines yet the administrators have been notified of the pending closure. He noted that some of these schools do not have operational licences, no qualified staff-mostly senior Four drop-outs and also operating in sub-standard structures putting the lives of pupils at risk.
He said despite numerous warnings, some of these schools have adamantly continued operating even after being ordered to close. “The district has identified 27 schools during an operation on such schools operating outside the ministry guidelines,” he said.
“There are mushrooming private-owned schools dotted across the entire district but some of them have complied with the ministry’s directive. However, those which have not responded will definitely not be allowed to operate” he said.
He explained that a series of meetings with the proprietors of these private-owned schools have been held but surprisingly most of them don’t turn up in order to understand the operational of such institutions
He challenged parents seeking to take their children in some of these private schools should always demand for a clearance reports from the education department but short of that they shouldn’t blame anyone as soon as operation to close some them begins mostly likely on Monday next week.
“These private schools should have a written report from the education department indicating the status whether this [these] school[s] had fully met the necessary requirement from the ministry of education” he explained.
He said that a task force would be set up, including education department officials and representatives of private school operators, for the closure. He regretted that some private schools in the district operate in two-bedroom flats and incomplete buildings.
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