Parents protest staffing gaps as Busanani PS fails PLE

By Dickens Twinomujuni

Stakeholders at Busanani Primary School in Busanza Sub County are worried over the worsening academic performance at the school. These blame it on poor staffing.

On Tuesday, the School Management Committee held a crisis meeting, attended by stakeholders, following poor performance in last year’s Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE).

Out of 16 candidates at Busanani PS, there was no single learner in Divisions 1 – 3, with only one candidate in Division four. 14 candidates were in Division U, while 1 was absent.

The Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) in Uganda has four grades: Division 1, Division 2, Division 3, and Division 4. Division 1 is the highest grade, and Division 4 is the lowest. 

Division 1: Awarded to students who score 90% or above. Division 2: Awarded to students who score between 75% and 89%. Division 3: Awarded to students who score between 60% and 74%, while Division 4: Awarded to students who score below 60%.

Division U is awared to those who failed to reach the minimum level of performance that can be awarded (Division 4) and therefore are not eligible for admission to secondary school.

The results shocked the parents and community members, who blame the poor performance on poor staffing.

“The school has teachers approaching retirement age only. They also move long distances to reach here. How do you expect better performance from such a school?” asked Vuganeza Edward, the chairperson School Management committee.

“The enrolment has drastically reduced. We used to have 249 learners, but we now have 170, with only less than 5 learners in P7. We are concerned that only old teachers are posted here. Why can’t you post youthful teachers to this school?” Vuganeza added.

The headteacher, Iyamuremye Spriano, told www.vomuhabura.com that all the 6 teachers employed at the school are above 50 years of age.

“All the six teachers here are above 50 years. They also move long distances to reach here, despite their old age. But I believe if transfers are effected and we get younger teachers, we can uplift this school,” said Iyamuremye.

He believes that for the school to perform, teachers must also be from the vicinity, to carry out lessons inn time.

Stakeholders, who include Muhawe Juliet and Tukahirwa Mariapola, LC III Councilors for Busanza Sub County blamed the schools’ problems on alcoholism.

“Apart from old age and long distances, these teachers drink a lot. They take alcohol along the way, and by the time they reach school, they are already drunk,” Noted Muhawe.

Tukahirwa asked for immediate transfer of the current teachers, saying ‘we need a better future for our children.’

“We are concerned about the future of our children. Even though you are begging us to maintain these teachers, we see that they can no longer teach our children. Let them go so that we get able teachers. Let them retire so that our children can get a better future,” said Tukahirwa.

But the Inspector of Kisoro district local government schools, Niringiye Nzitusi criticized the School management committee, for ‘not performing their oversight role.’

He said, “You represent the government. You don’t exist to cast blame on the headteacher and the teachers. How often have you realised a problem and you have sat to analyse it?”

He said parents and other stakeholders are expected to play the oversight role and report to relevant authorities whenever necessary.

“As parents, you should know your roles. Government has its responsibilities, but you have yours too. You are supposed to find out whether the head teacher and his teachers are working, while the government ensures that there are salaries and security for everything to move smoothly.” Niringiye told the meeting.

However, a number of stakeholders were not convinced with the staff, even after the meeting

The situation at Busanani PS paints a dark image of rural UPE schools, which are struggling with staffing gaps, enrolment and staff attendance.

By publication time, Bufumbira North legislator, Hon John Kamara was unreachable for comment, about his former school.