Education inspectors need to do their work

The Ministry of Education is clamping down on schools with substandard facilities. Ecole Secondaire de Hotelerie et Tourisme de Gasogi in Ndera sector was, last week, closed down and some pupils sent to other schools, while others remained stranded. More than 500 students were affected. While the move is commendable and should be supported, the authorities needed to act sensitively to the plight of the affected parents and children. There is need to always give ample notice to the parents on the pending closure so they find alternative schools for their children. In any case, the school should have been closed during holidays to avoid the parents incurring unnecessary transport costs and paying fees to the school. Now that the school was closed soon after the first term opened, who will help the parents recover their money from the ill-fated school? As a long-term solution, the weaknesses within the Directorate of Inspectorate should be addressed to carry our regular inspection for both quality purposes and administrative procedures. The district authorities and health inspectors should ensure that minimum hygiene standards are met. Some schools have high enrollment rates, but lack basic infrastructure and equipment to offer quality education. Someone needs to know that a school calendar being interrupted even for a day is a problem that can have far-reaching effects on all the stake holders. Education inspectors must step up to the plate and do their job. Ends

Opinions

Education inspectors need to do their work