MUKONO — The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education and Sports Mr Alex Kakooza has asked head teachers in Church of Uganda (COU) schools to mentor their successors.
Mr. Kakooza made the remarks as he presided over day annual conference under the theme “Take care of this child” held at Uganda Christian University where he represented the Prime Minister Rugunda as the Guest of Honor.
Kakooza urged head teachers to plan for their succession noting that most of them reach the time of their retirement without a well competent person to take over the office and once they leave the performance of the school also drops.
Mr Kakooza said sometimes head teachers are not happy when leaving their schools because they have no successors.
“Use your time well while still in office to groom the Deputy Head Teachers who will take over your positions,” he said
During the conference strategies were developed that will ensure good performance in C/U schools.
Mr Kakooza urged the leadership of the church to select good school management committees and Board of Governors whom he said will help strengthen the governance and appoint qualified people and not friends.
He also advised the executive members of Church of Uganda Heads of Education Institutions Association (COHEIA) in the inspection of schools department to keep inspecting schools to monitor teachers’ performances.
“Carry out regular inspections of schools this will help to find out which teachers are always absent from school and parents who don’t give their children food as they come to school.”
“After the inspection analyze and put together reports with actionable areas that will help take action that will improve education in the schools,” added
The Archbishop of the Church of Uganda the Most Rt Rev Stanley Ntangali who spoke at the conference for the last time as Chancellor of UCU also urged the head teachers to work together instead of competing against one another.
“As head teachers of Church of Uganda founded schools you should ensure that you work together instead of competing against each other but work as a team to deliver good quality education,” he said
Ntangali also asked the head teachers to treat their profession as a vocational calling instead of a job.
“You have dreamt enough, it’s time for action. Treat your profession as a calling instead of a job and use this opportunity to the best of your knowledge”.
He also noted that education today has become commercialized making it expensive for some students which has led to high rate of school dropouts.
Rev Paul Kakooza the Secretary Education Services in the Church of Uganda urged the Boards of Governors of schools to keep monitoring the staff from the ground level as there are limited resources.
He also revealed that they are going to lay off incompetent teachers .