Published on 29/11/2024
Speaker Anita Among has directed a joint parliamentary probe into corruption allegations plaguing World Bank-funded Seed Secondary Schools in Uganda.
Accusations include nepotism and hiring unqualified teachers, undermining education quality. The committees on Education and Public Service will lead the inquiry. Their findings aim to ensure transparency and restore public trust.
“We expect a report where these allegations have been thoroughly investigated, and the affected teachers given a fair hearing,” Speaker Among stated during a plenary session. She emphasized that the Education Committee will take the lead in compiling and presenting a report addressing the allegations and ensuring justice for all parties involved.
The directive follows revelations by Peter Ogwang, the Minister of State for Sports, who presented a statement during the plenary regarding the recruitment of teaching and non-teaching staff under the Uganda Intergovernmental Fiscal Transfers (UgIFT) Program.
Minister Ogwang admitted that the recruitment process had been compromised by corruption, bribery, and nepotism. “It has come to the attention of the Government that the recruitment process has been infiltrated by corrupt tendencies and opportunism. Prospective teachers have been asked to pay hefty sums to secure their positions,” Ogwang disclosed.
Ogwang further highlighted that some headteachers and deputy headteachers recruited under the program lacked the required qualifications. “The quality of headteachers and deputies recruited is concerning. Many lack the capacity to manage schools effectively,” he said.
According to recruitment guidelines, a headteacher at a Seed Secondary School must have a bachelor’s degree in education or equivalent, a master’s degree in a related field, and at least 12 years of experience, including three years as a deputy headteacher. Similarly, a deputy headteacher must have a bachelor’s degree and a minimum of nine years’ teaching experience, with a master’s degree considered an added advantage.
Complaints have emerged from Chief Administrative Officers and incumbent teachers excluded from recruitment lists despite having served in the schools for extended periods. These exclusions are reportedly based on regional biases rather than merit.
The Ministry of Education acknowledged discrepancies in the recruitment lists submitted to the Education Service Commission. Minister Ogwang noted that conflicting submissions from various stakeholders made it nearly impossible to verify the authenticity of the lists.
Ogwang outlined the progress of the UgIFT project, revealing that 117 Seed Schools have been constructed and are operational, while 115 schools are under construction in the second phase and 27 in the third phase. Additionally, 92 schools under the second phase have been identified to commence operations, with recruitment and deployment of staff underway.
The Speaker’s directive to refer the matter to committees was met with mixed reactions from MPs, some of whom sought to debate the issues raised in the Minister’s statement. However, Speaker Among declined these requests, stating, “It is premature for us to debate that statement. Let us follow our rules. The matters will be taken to the Committee, including the advert.”
