Kamuli, Uganda: Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) Chairperson Prof Dr Muhamadi Lubega has decried the rising cases of examination malpractice in schools, warning that the vice is producing “half-baked” learners across education levels.
Dr Lubega, who also serves as First Deputy Premier of Busoga Kingdom, was on Saturday addressing parents and pupils at Good Times Preparatory School in Bukafuga, Namwendwa Town Council during a pre-primary graduation and speech day. He accused some parents of fuelling the malpractice by bribing teachers to illegally help their children.
“The world has gone crazy these days. Parents steal exams and give their children, but again beat them when they steal things at home. You pay school fees from Primary One to Senior Four and still convince a headteacher to steal exams,” he said, adding that candidates from Luwangula schools obtain genuine results.
He noted that learners who rely on leaked papers struggle in future academic assessments, urging parents to invest their efforts and money in properly educating their children.
Prof Lubega further encouraged them to consider private schools over government’s UPE and USE institutions, saying the recent teachers’ strike should be a lesson on the limitations of free education.
“You saw what happened when teachers went on strike, pupils suffered. Sometimes free things are not good,” he said, lauding school proprietor Hajj Yusuf Luwangula for establishing and sustaining the education project.
Hajj Luwangula, Director of Luwangula Schools, thanked Allah for giving him a second chance after recovering from an illness that led to his admission at Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi. He applauded staff and parents for keeping the school progressing even in his absence.
Kamuli District Education Officer Waibi Joseph commended the director for nurturing disciplined learners and urged parents to protect children from harmful activities during the holiday season. He warned against child labour and early pregnancies, which remain major causes of school dropout in Busoga.
“The problem in Busoga is that boys are taken to sugarcane plantations while girls get pregnant. Keep them busy with productive work and avoid overspending these holidays,” Waibi said.
The headteacher of Happy Times Preparatory School, Hajjat Rehema Luwangula, thanked parents for their support and reminded them to closely monitor their children during the political season, cautioning against exposing minors to campaign activities that may turn violent. She encouraged parents to keep learners engaged in books throughout the holiday.
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