Private schools likely to face scarcity of teachers ahead of schools reopening

HOIMA, UGANDA: As the dates for the official reopening of schools comes closer, the number of teachers in various private schools may not report back to their respective schools after spending two years of unemployment.

In March 2020, President Kaguta Museveni directed the closure of all schools in Uganda as a way of reducing the spread of Covid 19. Later last year in his address on December 31st, President Museveni directed the reopening of schools starting next week on January 10, 2022.

However, according to the reports, many private schools in Hoima city have left teaching and embarked to other businesses after spending two years with out teaching.

Research shows that many private schools in Hoima city have embarked on recruiting new teachers to replace those who left.

In an interview with Daily Express, one the private secondary School teacher in Hoima city whose names were withheld says he chose to leave teaching to join farming due to the government’s delay to reopen schools.

“After the closure of schools by the President of Uganda, many private teachers were left unemployed, this forced some of us to leave teaching to join other businesses in order to earn a living”. He said.

Harbat Samuel Oyeta the Headteacher of St Jude Primary school in Hoima city says over 30% of the teaching staff may not report back to school during the official reopening of schools.

“We have decided to recrit new staff Members to fill the gaps of our staff members who left the opportunity”. Oyeta said.

Meanwhile, Johnson Kusiima Baingana the Hoima city educational officer confirmed the reports.

“It is true many teachers in Uganda more especially private teachers left teaching and may not return to schools during the official reopening and may affect the education standards in Hoima city since some schools do not have the capacity to recruit new teachers”. Baingana said.

Mr. Baingana later asked schools that have fallen a victim to ask support from the Hoima city education department to help them with teachers to fill the gaps.