Pallisa, Uganda: The Pallisa Chief Administrative Officer, Mr Majeme Alex Felix, has directed all head teachers in the district to ensure that schools open for Term One on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, in line with the Ministry of Education and Sports calendar, warning against delays that undermine teaching time.
Addressing head teachers on Monday afternoon, Majeme said the long-standing practice of using the official opening day for learner registration instead of teaching must end.
“The tendency of registering learners on the very day meant for teaching and learning must be eroded,” Majeme said, adding that registration, staff meetings, and allocation of duties should have been concluded before learners reported.
He stressed that Tuesday marks the start of “real business” in schools and should not be wasted on administrative routines.
Majeme dismissed complaints related to staff transfers, noting that transfer letters were issued a fortnight earlier and handovers effected immediately.
“Teachers do not go on holiday. They use recess time for preparation. I see no reason for complaints,” Majeme said, adding that his background as a trained teacher makes him results-oriented. “After my first degree in Political Science, I went back and did a Postgraduate Diploma in Education. I love education and I demand results.”
Monitoring Tightened
Pallisa District Education Officer Omutuju Ronald said his office is ready to monitor the opening of all 76 government-aided primary schools in the district to ensure compliance.
He blamed some parents for delaying school reopening by keeping children at home under the pretext of sourcing scholastic materials.
“Education is not a disaster that catches parents unaware. Reporting dates are clearly written on report cards,” Omutuju said, warning that first-day attendance records should not be taken lightly.
On transfers, he said all movements took immediate effect and were processed following requests by individual teachers.
“These are routine transfers, and I am happy the instructions were adhered to,” he said.
The District Inspector of Schools, Opedun John, raised concern over chronic loss of learning time at the start of every term, estimating that two to three weeks are wasted annually.
“This results in learners losing about 63 weeks during their primary education, equivalent to nearly seven terms,” Opedun said. “Effectively, children sit exams after only five years of learning instead of seven.”
He called for joint home-to-home mobilisation by local authorities to ensure children report to school on time.
Political Leaders Weigh In
Pallisa District Vice Chairperson and Secretary for Education and Health Clement Opakasi praised Majeme’s leadership, describing time as the most unaffordable resource in public service.
“When you visit offices in Pallisa today, you find officers reporting and leaving on time and smartly dressed. This discipline motivates children to study hard,” Opakasi said, dismissing criticism of the dress code as misplaced.
Meanwhile, School Management Committee chairperson of Opadoi Primary School Charles Obela urged parents to prioritise feeding learners and honour agreed school support contributions.
“Parents must feed their children and support assessments. UPE funds do not cater for everything,” Obela said, urging schools to focus on producing disciplined and productive learners.
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