Holiday teaching ban sparks debate among parents, teachers

What the report says

A government ban on holiday teaching in Uganda has prompted a wide split among parents, teachers and education officials, according to The Independent Uganda. The directive, reported from Kampala and referenced in multiple districts, targets the long-running practice of schools, especially private ones, and individual teachers charging for lessons during school breaks. Many schools that had already planned holiday programmes quickly cancelled them after the order, while others reportedly shifted classes online or continued them discreetly.

The debate centers on whether the ban protects children’s right to rest or undermines academic preparation. Some parents said holidays should give pupils time for chores, family life and non-academic skills, while others worried that exam candidates would fall behind or be exposed to idle time and outside influences if kept at home. Teachers and school operators also appeared divided, with some saying holiday lessons help complete the syllabus and provide income in a low-pay sector, while critics said the practice has become a burden on families.

The article also describes enforcement actions in several places. In Masaka City, officials reportedly disrupted classes and ordered the arrest of teachers found teaching holiday sessions. In Arua City, education officers dispersed pupils and warned that offending schools could lose licences. Readers in places including Teso, Mbale, Fort Portal and Luwero offered different views, reflecting a broader national dispute over how to balance schooling, supervision, cost and child welfare.

More broadly, the report places the issue in the context of Uganda’s exam-driven education culture, where holiday coaching has become common despite repeated criticism.