Speaker Among directed the Ministry of Education to provide MPs with official school guidelines for the third term, including provisions for trips and holidays.
Kampala, Uganda – The Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, has directed the Ministry of Education and Sports to provide every Member of Parliament with a copy of the official guidelines for schools ahead of the third term, which includes provisions for school trips and organized holidays.
The directive follows a concern raised by Tororo District Woman MP, Sarah Opendi, who urged the ministry to clarify the guidelines issued to schools regarding trips and holidays.
MPs Rose Obiga and Francis Mwijukye echoed these concerns, noting that despite the existence of these guidelines, many schools, especially those in remote areas, continue to transport children over long distances without proper safety measures.
The State Minister for Education and Sports, Peter Ogwang, assured Parliament that all schools across the country have received the guidelines, which cover transportation, hygiene, and all aspects of travel safety.
Speaker Among further instructed the minister to ensure that every MP receives a copy of the guidelines to enable them to effectively monitor and explain the protocols to schools in their constituencies.
Regarding schools planning to take students on trips by train, Minister Ogwang confirmed that the ministry is collaborating with the police to ensure strict adherence to safety measures during such journeys.
MPs also urged the ministry to regulate schools that charge exorbitant fees for trips, but the Speaker emphasized that parents must also take responsibility by communicating directly with school transporters to negotiate reasonable costs.
