Educationists in the Ankole region have challenged the Ugandan government to review the national school calendar as schools continue to conduct lessons during holidays, in defiance of a Ministry of Education directive.
The practice is being driven by an obsession with first grades among schools, learners, and parents.
Several government school heads have admitted to carrying out illegal holiday studies due to competition from private schools, which they argue have more time for instruction.
"Maybe it's high time for the government to review the national school calendar," said a government school head.
A teacher from Ntungamo echoed these sentiments, highlighting a mismatch between the primary school curriculum and what learners encounter in lower secondary education.
This discrepancy, he argued, pressures schools to complete the syllabus faster, leading them to resort to teaching during holidays.
Reuben Muramuzi , the headteacher at Mutanoga Primary School in Ntungamo District, noted that parents often support holiday studies to prevent children from engaging in risky behaviors such as early pregnancies.
"Parents are comfortable with holiday studies as they keep children in school and out of trouble," Muramuzi said.
Tumwine Manansi, a mathematics teacher at the same school, called for refresher courses for educators to better handle the current curriculum.
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"We need refresher courses, but only a few are considered, and they have to train others upon their return," he remarked.
Retired Reverend Francis Bamunoba emphasized the need for stabilized teacher salaries to reduce the prevalence of private coaching and holiday classes.
He argued that salary disparities among teachers lead to absenteeism and private businesses being conducted during school hours.
"If teachers were given reasonable salaries, absenteeism would decrease, and there would be less need to compensate during holidays," he said.
When asked why they study during holidays, Gideon Manzi , a Primary Seven pupil at Mutanoga Primary School, said, "We study to get first grades like others in private schools; that's why we are here."
Brighton Barugahare, a member of the Education Policy Review Commission, disagreed with the practice of holiday studies, emphasizing that holidays serve an important purpose for students' rest and recovery.
"Schools are defying the school calendar, creating an imbalance for themselves, with some learners missing out on holiday studies," Barugahare said.
"Let parents play their part in raising and grooming their children."
Barugahare also criticized schools for using capitation grants to recruit private teachers without formal contracts, who are then paid to teach during holidays. "That's wrong," he added.
The Ministry of Education and Sports issued a stern warning in April against teaching and coaching activities for learners during holidays, as the first term of 2024 concluded. Despite this, many schools have ignored the directive, continuing with business as usual.
