New Vision (Kampala)

Uganda: Teachers Face Axe Over Caning

Kampala — The Government will sack head teachers and teachers who use corporal punishment to discipline students and pupils, the higher education state minister has said.

Addressing journalists in Kampala recently, Gabriel Opio said caning has been linked to the high drop out rate in schools.

The just-concluded education sector review conference resolved to end corporal punishment in schools. The education ministry also launched a handbook on alternatives to corporal punishment.

Corporal punishment was abolished in schools in 2006 but the practice has continued in several schools countrywide.

Education Funding Agencies Group coordinator Kevin Kelly said although the Government spends a lot of money on primary education, the completion rate had remained at 50%.

"The low completion rate should be a national concern and all stakeholders should put their efforts to reduce dropout among pupils," he said.

On absenteeism by teachers and pupils, Opio said the vice had undermined efforts to improve performance in schools.

The education ministry recently launched the quality enhancement initiative to improve performance in primary schools.

Permanent secretary Francis Lubanga said there was a continued shortage of qualified teachers as a result of the slow recruitment by the Education Service Commission.


Copyright © 2008 New Vision. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.

AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 130 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.

Comments 1 to 1 of 1 Post a comment

  • NC MOM
    Nov 13 2008, 17:22

    I live in North Carolina, in the United States, where child abuse is actually promoted in our schools. A teacher who beat a child black and blue a couple of years ago has now been promoted to vice principal of another school. No child should attend school in any part of the world where violence is modeled by the educators.