Anglican Bishop of Soroti Diocese, Rt Rev Kosea Odongo, has publicly denounced Minister of Local Government, Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi, for his nationwide audit of government institutions. Bishop Odongo expressed concerns that Balaam's methods are causing fear among teachers in Church-founded schools, leading them to abandon key school activities and refuse to collect Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) fees. This, he believes, will negatively impact the education of students.
According to Rev. Godfrey Obone, the Diocesan Education Coordinator, the current situation is making it difficult to run government-aided schools in the diocese. He warned that the government's struggle to pay teachers' salaries and the directive for parents not to pay development and PTA fees will cripple some schools that rely heavily on these funds. Rev. Obone emphasized that most schools have insufficient government teachers, and without PTA contributions, the education of students will suffer.
Bishop Odongo stressed that Church-founded schools are only government-aided, not purely government schools. He argued that Balaam should focus on seed schools and community schools rather than Church of Uganda-founded schools. The bishop emphasized that the Church is committed to providing quality education and will work with parents to ensure their children learn. He also warned that if Balaam's approach continues, there will be high student failure in government schools next year.
The bishop cited examples of schools in his diocese, such as Labira Girls Secondary School, which has only 17 government teachers against a required 65. He claimed that Balaam's actions have led to PTA teachers walking away, leaving only 14 teachers to cater to the student load. Bishop Odongo described Balaam's actions as an attack on education and the future of the country.
Some parents, who requested anonymity, expressed differing views, calling for the audit of government-aided schools to ensure accountability. They cited instances of alleged corruption, such as Soroti SS and Madera Girls, where PTA funds were not accounted for. These parents appealed to the government to provide a platform for annual accountability of PTA funds.
President Museveni has previously praised Minister Balaam for his efforts in fighting corruption. The president officially backed Balaam's field operations and directed the Director of Public Prosecutions to swiftly evaluate evidence and prosecute culprits. This has led to a clash between the government and Church-founded schools.
Bishop Odongo encouraged teachers to remain firm and focus on preparing students for exams. He urged them to make the most of the remaining time to ensure students are ready. The bishop also warned that if the situation persists, the Church may consider removing its support and building its own schools.
Key points
- Anglican Bishop Kosea Odongo criticizes Minister Balaam's school inspections, citing fear and potential harm to education.
- Church-founded schools are only government-aided, not purely government schools, according to Bishop Odongo.
- Parents and the government have differing views on the audit of PTA funds in government-aided schools.
