Kasaali Seed Secondary School in Kyotera District is facing a serious staffing crisis, leaving students without teachers since the second term began on May 26. The issue has persisted, with many learners losing hope and some considering dropping out due to the lack of lessons.
The problem arises from the failure of government-appointed teachers to report for duty, despite being officially posted by the Ministry of Education. The school had previously relied on volunteer teachers from the local community, who expected to be retained when the school was officially recognized. However, many were excluded from the final list of recruits.
Headteacher Mr. Robert Baliita confirmed that most of the 28 newly appointed teachers have not turned up, leaving a critical teaching gap. “We received a ministry circular confirming new staff before the term began, but most have not reported,” he said. Only 12 of the 28 posted teachers are currently present.
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A Senior Four student described the situation as “disheartening,” explaining that learners come to school daily in vain, hoping for classes to resume.
Although the ongoing national strike by Arts teachers under the Uganda Professional Humanities Teachers’ Union (UPHTU) may explain some of the absences, local officials note that Science teachers—who are not striking—are also missing. Kyotera District Education Officer Mr. Lawrence Ssekyondwa criticized their failure to report, calling it “inexcusable.”
Breach of Duty and Legal Violations
Teachers who fail to report for work may be in violation of Uganda’s Education Service Code of Conduct. Both the Education Service Act, 2002, and Public Service Standing Orders treat absence without leave or reporting delays of more than 14 days as abandonment of duty—an offense that can lead to dismissal.
Education rights advocates warn this dereliction harms learners and the education system at large. Dr. Tom Darlington Balojja, a lecturer and Kyotera resident, stated that teacher absenteeism in rural schools severely affects access, equality, and quality of education, widening the gap between urban and rural schools.
Overlooking Local Volunteers Sparks Outrage
Local leaders have expressed frustration with the ministry’s recruitment process, arguing that local volunteer teachers who sustained the school before it was gazetted were unfairly excluded.
“These local teachers sacrifice everything to keep schools running, yet they’re pushed aside during recruitment in favor of others who delay reporting or show little commitment,” said Kyotera District Chairperson Patrick Kintu Kisekulo.
Repeated attempts to reach Minister of State for Higher Education John Chrysestom Muyingo and ministry spokesperson Denis Mugimba for comment were unsuccessful.
Proposed Solutions
At a recent meeting, Kyotera district leaders suggested urgent measures to address the crisis, including:
- Immediate follow-up on absentee teachers
- Strict enforcement of disciplinary action in line with civil service rules
- Reassessing the recruitment process to prioritize locally based teachers
- Temporarily reinstating volunteer teachers to minimize disruption
The Ministry of Education has yet to respond to the district’s concerns.
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