Oyam, Uganda – Councilors from Oyam District are sounding the alarm over a critical gap in school inspections, with some institutions reportedly going an entire term without official reviews.
The district, which oversees 109 primary schools and 11 secondary schools in both the North and South constituencies, is facing mounting concerns about the impact of these delays on educational standards.
The issue was brought to the forefront by Beatrice Okello, the District Councilor for Ngai Sub-county and Secretary for Education and Sports, during a recent district council session.
Okello revealed that some schools in the district had not undergone any formal inspection throughout the term, a situation that has left many educators and councilors worried about the effectiveness of the district’s education system.
“This is a serious problem,” Okello told the council. “Without regular inspections, we risk compromising the quality of education in our schools. Our children deserve better oversight.”
Her sentiments were echoed by several other councilors, who voiced their concern that the lack of inspections could affect both teaching standards and the allocation of resources for schools in need.
Many expressed fears that the situation could harm the district’s education department in the long run.
District Chairperson Hon. Benson Walter Dila Oyuku, in response, assured the council that he would take immediate action to rectify the situation.
“Inspection is an essential part of maintaining quality education,” Oyuku said, agreeing with Okello’s call for reform. “We will ensure that all schools are inspected in the first term of 2025.”
Ms. Acon Janet, the District Senior Inspector of Schools, responded by explaining that while 105 out of 109 schools had been inspected, delays in submitting the reports to the district council were causing confusion.
“Inspection reports are only valid for four days,” she said, “so some reports expire before they can be submitted for review.”
The district hopes that with continued pressure and a clear plan for improvement, these inspection challenges will soon be resolved, ensuring that Oyam’s schools receive the oversight they need.
