Remove Boarding Section, UNEB Scholar Dr Lawrence Muganga Writes To Museveni

Following President Yoweri Museveni's directive to all school heads in Uganda to stop charging school fees in Government schools, the vice chancellor of Victoria University Dr Lawrence Muganga has written to him advising Mr Museveni to end Boarding Schools in Uganda.

According to Scholar Muganga, This approach is financially sustainable, It is affordable for the government and helps parents too. More importantly, keeping students in their communities reduces the social problems they face in boarding schools.

"Boarding schools often expose students to bad influences, take them away from real-life experiences, and increase their stress. By keeping students in their communities, they can learn in healthier environments and have more practical, real-world learning experiences". Says Dr Muganga

He has further advised  the President to eliminate National Exams for Primary seven (PLE) and Senior four (UCE).

This revolutionary step would improve the quality of education in Uganda. National exams do not determine a person’s success in life. Instead, they create a divide between "good" and "bad" schools based on exam results. These exams also allow schools to charge high fees, promising good grades, but this mainly benefits a few people financially. In many countries in the Global North, such exams have been removed, and teachers now use continuous assessment, which is a better way to measure a student’s knowledge and skills. He said.

"By shifting from national exams to continuous assessment, Uganda would save significant resources, which could be reinvested in paying teachers better, building science labs, developing AI-focused learning centers, and expanding classroom facilities".He added.

" Your Excellency, you are already on the right path by advocating for free education at the primary and secondary levels. I fully agree with you, education should be accessible to every young person up to Senior six. Education is a public good, and it is the government’s responsibility to ensure that all children can benefit from it. Mr. President, the solutions you seek are within reach, and I believe that the steps you are considering are the right ones".Advised Muganga.

Dr Muganga expressed confidence that, in time, the benefits will be clear once government implements his reforms and very optimistic that they will transform Uganda's education system for the better.