PHOTO: Hon. Mukasa inspecting one of the school buildings in Kabowa
BY SHARON ASIO
NEWS EDITOR MEDIA
MEMBER of Parliament Aloysius Mukasa yesterday unexpectedly visited different schools in Lubaga South Constituency to inspect them and check with the management on whether they are prepared to receive pupils and students come Monday 10th January, 2022. The MP engaged school owners and staff.
This comes after The Head of State H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on Friday last week directed that schools re-open on 10th January 2022 after a period of about two years when he closed them over the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic.
In all schools he visited, MP Mukasa was taken around classes, toilets, school kitchens and dormitories. He asked to be taken to sanitising points and be briefed on how these schools are prepared to observe SOPs. Hon. Mukasa commended those that had painstakingly tried to put things in order and for those whose conditions were apalling, he directed the management to immediately work on them or risk being stopped from receiving students on Monday until everything is done in the right order.
He has also urged school owners not to over raise school fees saying parents are not doing well financially since most of their businesses and work were hit by the Pandemic.
“As the Member of Parliament for this constituency, it’s my responsibility to make sure that come monday, our children report to resume their studies in schools with a conducive learning environment. We can not allow children to study from dilapidated classrooms. That is why I am inspecting all schools in Lubaga South.” MP Mukasa told headteachers of the schools he visited.
He requested them not to, “Over raise school fees. It’s true you were affected by Covid-19 but also many parents lost their jobs and businesses.”
His inspection started in Najjanankumbi at Train Up a Child School and Summer Blue Nursery and Primary School-Kabowa where the head teacher Olivia Namuli told the MP that they are no longer receiving financial aid from the ministry of Gender.
Another school the MP inspected was Disney Junior where the head teacher assured him that they will not hike school fees because this is the time they need to help parents to return their children at school.
Hon. Mukasa has however called upon parents to forego other needs and return their children to school warning those who will hesitate will be handled by the law.
This news website has found out that a good number of schools which were badly hit by the pandemic have closed down.
Some of these schools were renting structures and the owners couldn’t manage paying rent arrears. They decided to close.
Others are in a sorry state, they lack seats, buildings need to be renovated and in need of Government support.
Area member of parliament has pledged to meet officials from the Ministry of Education to see how these schools will be bailed out so that they can be able to reopen and give excellent services to the students.
Hon. Mukasa is expected to continue with school inspection tomorrow.
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