Low Turnout of Learners, Teachers Mark Start of Third Term
As schools reopened for the third term of the 2025 academic year, a noticeable decline in student and teacher attendance was observed in Bushenyi and Kazo districts. Private schools reported a significant drop in learner numbers while government schools faced even more challenges due to ongoing teacher strikes.
At St. Mary’s Primary School in Kyamuhunga, attendance was notably low with no government teachers on duty. School Headteacher Grace Omwigarire confirmed that most teachers had joined the strike announced by Uganda National Teachers’ Union (UNATU) leaving only private teachers to manage the few pupils present.
Similarly, at St. Kaggwa Boarding Primary School, attendance was around 60%. The school’s administration stated that the strike would not heavily impact learning due to the higher number of private teachers employed there.
UNATU Bushenyi District Chairperson Alex Musinguzi advised parents to keep their children at home warning that teachers are not available to conduct lessons.
Many schools in Kazo Town Council reported low student turnout. Sr. Assumpta Awutamayar, Headteacher of St. Catherine Girls, and Hillary Asiimwe, Headteacher of Kazo Preparatory School urged parents to send children to school, emphasizing the importance of this term for students’ progress.
However, some government schools, including Kazo Model Primary School and Kyabahura Primary School did not provide comments citing shock over the absence of government teachers due to the ongoing arts teachers’ strike.
In a statement, UNATU Kazo District Chairperson Innocent Ahimbisibwe urged parents to keep children at home until teachers return to work citing the lack of teaching staff as a major concern.
