District leaders, education inspectors, and school administrators in Buliisa are increasingly alarmed by the growing number of teachers refusing to accept assignments in the district’s schools. The primary reasons cited for these rejections are the district’s remote location and inadequate working conditions.
This has led to
severe staffing shortages across the district's schools, forcing some
institutions to rely on teachers funded by parents or the teachers’ association
to fill the gaps.
Buliisa District,
which is divided into seven sub-counties, operates four government secondary
schools and 40 primary schools, all of which are grappling with significant
teacher shortages.
At Kigungu
Secondary School, for instance, only eight of the 25 required teachers are on
the government payroll, with the remaining teachers being paid by parents.
Charles Mbabazi,
the head teacher of Kigungu Secondary School, revealed that many teachers
assigned to the school refuse to stay, often leaving as soon as they arrive.
"We’ve had numerous teacher appointments, but many refuse to stay due to
the remote and harsh environment," Mbabazi explained.
He added,
"We’re left with only eight government-paid teachers, while the rest are
funded by parents. This situation is particularly challenging because the local
community is often reluctant to contribute to education funding."
James Mugisa, the
inspector of schools in Buliisa, confirmed that teachers frequently reject
postings to the district, citing insufficient incentives and the absence of
staff housing.
"Teachers
request allowances and housing, but we lack the funds, and the government
hasn’t provided the necessary facilities. All we can do is wait for the
government to revise its policies," Mugisa said.
Mbabazi suggested
that the government should prioritize hiring local teachers who are more
willing to work under the current conditions rather than posting teachers from
other districts.
"We have 25
staff positions, but only eight are filled by government-paid teachers. The
rest are qualified teachers working on PTA pay. It would be more effective to
recruit locally rather than sending us teachers who are unwilling to
stay," he recommended.
Alan Alinda, a
teacher at Kigungu Secondary School, agreed with this approach, stating,
"I have a teaching diploma, and I’m committed to working here. The
government should consider recruiting local teachers who are already prepared
to work in these challenging conditions."
Johnson Kusiima
Baingana, the chairperson of the Bunyoro Region Inspector of Schools, noted
that this issue is not unique to Buliisa but is also affecting other
hard-to-reach districts like Kagadi and Hoima. He called on the government to
improve working conditions, including the provision of staff housing.
Buliisa District
Chairman Fred Lukumu warned that the ongoing teacher shortage is severely
impacting both school performance and student enrollment.
"Teachers
are rejecting assignments, and the government’s inaction is damaging education
in the district. We need affirmative action for hard-to-reach districts, such
as offering additional allowances, similar to what’s done in the health
sector," Lukumu emphasized.
The inspector
also pointed out that while private schools could serve as an alternative, many
of them do not adhere to the government curriculum, further complicating the
educational challenges faced by the district