Education Ministry Questions Schools Hiring PTA Teachers as Gov’t Staff Remain Underused

What the report says

In Lira City, Uganda, the Ministry of Education and Sports has told secondary school headteachers to tighten supervision of teaching and learning, saying schools should not expect strong academic results without effective inspection and follow-up. The remarks were delivered by Permanent Secretary Dr. Kedrace Turyagyenda at the Association of Secondary School Headteachers of Uganda (ASSHU) annual general meeting and conference held at St. Katherine Girls Secondary School.

Dr. Turyagyenda said school leaders must monitor class attendance, support teachers, and make sure education policies are carried out. She also urged administrators to first make full use of teachers already on the government payroll before bringing in additional staff through Parent-Teacher Associations. According to her, government teachers are expected to teach at least 20 lessons a week, and poor use of existing staff can lead schools to rely on extra parent funding. She further warned against practices that pressure parents through students, saying this can undermine Universal Secondary Education and Universal Primary Education.

The ministry official also reminded schools to follow safety guidelines when transporting learners and to avoid excluding children because of disability or poverty. She said government remains committed to phased salary increases for public servants and to fighting corruption, while urging that enforcement be handled fairly.

ASSHU leaders used the meeting to press for faster salary enhancement for headteachers and to call for professional, lawful handling of corruption investigations. The conference brought together more than 1,000 headteachers and deputies from across the country and was scheduled to run through September 4. A broader context, beyond the report, is that Uganda’s schools continue to face staffing, pay, and infrastructure pressures, which often shape debates over school fees and management.