Several parents argued that many low-cost private schools provide the only affordable education option for families who cannot afford the fees charged by larger and well-established schools.
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Education authorities in Mukono District have closed five private schools in Nakisunga sub-county after an inspection uncovered poor sanitation, overcrowded classrooms, and unqualified teachers, raising fresh concerns about the safety and welfare of learners in privately run institutions.
The inspection, led by the Mukono District Inspector of Schools Isaac Gasujja, involved local government officials and police. The operation targeted private schools suspected of operating below the Ministry of Education minimum standards.
By the end of the exercise on day one, officials had ordered the closure of Kateente Orthodox Secondary School, Divan Secondary School, School Tourist Gamba Primary School, and Excel Kindergarten and Primary School, among others.
The inspection team first visited Viema Junior School, where they encountered what officials described as alarming conditions.
Inspectors reported that pupils were living in deplorable circumstances, with some children sleeping directly on the floor due to a lack of proper bedding. The few mattresses available were dirty and worn out, while classrooms lacked sufficient desks and chairs.
In some cases, two classes were reportedly sharing the same classroom space, raising concerns about congestion and the quality of learning. Authorities also discovered that several teachers at the school lacked the required academic and professional qualifications.
Officials said the conditions were so disturbing that some members of the inspection team struggled to contain their emotions.
“We found children studying and living in extremely poor conditions that cannot be tolerated in a school environment,” one official involved in the operation said.
During the inspection, several pupils were seen sweeping away water that had seeped into their dormitories in an attempt to prevent flooding in their sleeping areas. Some windows in the dormitory had been crudely supported with sticks to prevent them from collapsing.
A number of pupils who spoke to inspectors said the conditions in which they sleep are worrying, with some revealing that they are forced to “rent” space from fellow pupils in order to find a place to sleep.
The head teacher of Viema Junior School declined to speak to the media but confirmed that the school had already been closed by authorities. He said the institution had only started operations earlier this year.
Addressing the learners, Gasujja instructed the pupils to return home immediately, explaining that the school would remain closed until it meets the required standards.
“We cannot allow children to continue studying in such conditions. The school will only reopen after fulfilling all the necessary requirements,” he told the learners.
Officials estimated that more than 100 pupils were enrolled at the school at the time of the inspection.
The exercise was briefly disrupted when the school administrator reportedly hid the keys to the school gate after learning that inspectors had arrived. Authorities were forced to obtain a duplicate key before continuing with the inspection.
The team later proceeded to Excel Kindergarten and Primary School in Namayuba, where they discovered similar violations.
The school was closed after inspectors found inadequate sanitation facilities that forced pupils to relieve themselves in nearby bushes. Classrooms were also overcrowded, with the school reportedly accommodating more than 280 pupils.
When police arrived at the premises, some teachers allegedly fled the school.
Gasujja later assembled the pupils and informed them that the school had been closed for failing to meet the minimum education standards.
News of the closures sparked concern among some parents, who appealed to the government to intervene. Several parents argued that many low-cost private schools provide the only affordable education option for families who cannot afford the fees charged by larger and well-established schools.
“We request the President to help us because these schools are the only ones we can afford,” one parent said.
However, Nassali Lilian criticized the decision to shut down the school immediately.
She argued that inspectors should have first guided school administrators on the improvements needed to meet the required standards rather than resorting to closures.
“They should first advise us on what needs to be improved so that we can correct it. Parents have already paid their school fees, and now we don’t know what will happen to them,” she said.
Esteriko Kyegombe, the Community Development Officer for Nakisunga sub-county, defended the decision, saying authorities cannot allow children to study in unsafe and unhygienic environments.
“We cannot accept such conditions in schools where children are supposed to learn and grow safely,” Kyegombe said.
She urged all private school proprietors in the area to ensure they meet the required standards before admitting learners.
The operation is part of a wider effort by Mukono District authorities to crack down on unlicensed and substandard schools as the new academic year begins. Officials say more inspections will continue across the district to ensure that all learning institutions comply with national education standards.
