-Exposes Irregularities In School Administration
By Insight Post Uganda
Mukono-Uganda
In the peaceful village of Nantabulirwa, located in Mukono district, the smooth flow of education at New Hope for Africa Nursery and Primary School has been unexpectedly disrupted. The government head teacher, Teopista Nakabiri, has been temporarily suspended from her position, causing a sense of unease among the school community.
The suddenness of this development has left students and staff bewildered, as they try to make sense of the situation and restore the peaceful atmosphere they once enjoyed within the school’s walls.
The hallways were filled with hushed conversations as learners exchanged puzzled glances, trying to figure out what had happened and why it was so unusual.
A little more than a year ago, the government appointed Nakabiri with the task of improving the school’s academic performance and resolving the ongoing conflicts between the administration and the founding directors.
In 2006, the late Annet Kayongo founded New Hope for Africa, and in 2012, it received recognition as a government-aided institution.
The leadership of the organisation was subsequently entrusted to directors such as Lydia Kayongo and Rogers Nkalubo Kayongo, who served as executive directors.
Government-aided schools like New Hope for Africa had a distinctive nature. Although privately owned, they were subject to government oversight and operated according to rules and regulations similar to those governing public schools.
The curriculum, study materials, syllabus, and even examinations at government-aided schools like New Hope for Africa were designed in accordance with government guidelines, ensuring a standardized education for all students.
Furthermore, the recruitment and transfers of teachers were directly managed by the government, establishing a strong link between its influence and the school’s operations.
On the 5th of July, a significant change took place in the leadership of the school. Michael Ntulume, one of the directors on the board, exercised his authority and issued a suspension letter, alleging Nakabiri’s incompetence.
The letter explicitly stated that Nakabiri’s performance and behaviour did not meet the expected standards for a headmistress. The allegations reverberated throughout the school, leaving both the staff and students bewildered, and longing for clarity in the midst of the uncertain situation that had engulfed their cherished institution.
He also mentioned that there have been several incidents and complaints that raised serious concerns about Nakabiri’s ability to fulfil her responsibilities effectively and maintain a good learning environment for the students.
The letter further stated that it was necessary to suspend Nakabiri until a complete review and evaluation could be conducted. During the suspension period, she was expected to stay away from the school premises and not engage in any official duties or activities as a head teacher.
However, Nakabiri, was found sitting outside the school gate on Tuesday with test papers for primary seven pupils. She did not see a reason to stay at home. She failed to understand the meaning of the suspension letter. The gatekeeper was instructed not to allow her access to the school campus.
According to Nakabiri, all the accusations brought against her were unfounded, as she was a qualified teacher with over thirty years of experience and a degree. Nakabiri claims that the reason behind her suspension was her refusal to grant the directors access to the school bank account to protect against misusing the school funds.
She claims to have urged the school management committee to renovate classrooms and teacher’s quarters to avoid inconveniencing both learners and teachers during the rainy season. However, the management did not take kindly to her advice.
As a result, the rainy season made it difficult for students to learn in classrooms as water would enter through doors and windows. Teachers would also have to run to protect their belongings in their staff quarters.
The school has a total of 380 students and sixteen teachers, eight of whom were on the government payroll. But when a group of journalists visited the school to confirm the head teacher’s account, the director hurriedly left the office to elude them.
The acting head teacher, Matiya Hamya, also left his office and did not return until the school bursar informed the journalists that their concerns would not be addressed until the board of directors met again to decide on the way forward.
Majerani Luboyera, the Mukono Municipality Deputy Town Clerk, told us that the town clerk’s office had become aware of the issues caused by the school management and had summoned them, along with the head teacher, to resolve the matter.
Luboyera mentioned that the meeting would determine whether the partnership between the school and the government would continue. He noted that there had been five changes in head teachers within the last six years, but the school directors had not been cooperative.
In the past five years, several teachers had been transferred from the school, including Edward Makemo, Isaac Mugawe, Moses Matovu, Suzan Kyabangi, and Teopista Nakabiri. Nakabiri managed to help students achieve eight first grades in 2022.
The former chairperson of the school management committee, Gwabe Okello, claimed that the school had been performing well until new directors took charge seven years ago.
He mentioned that he was removed from his position for not supporting their agenda, which aimed to fully take over the school despite being government-aided.
Okello explained that the founding director lacked funds to manage the school and sought government support. However, his children were now reversing everything and had raised the school fees significantly compared to nearby government-aided schools.
The school charged UGX190,000 for Primary Seven (P7) candidates and UGX90,000 for other classes, in addition to other requirements. Neighbouring government-aided schools such as St. Peters and St. Joseph charged less than UGX100,000 for the candidate.
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