Alebtong,Uganda | Secondary schools in Alebtong District are grappling with an acute shortage of teachers, poor school fees payment and declining learner attendance, with education leaders warning that the challenges are threatening the smooth running of schools.
Speaking to journalists during a media visit to Aloi Secondary School on Monday, June 29, 2026, the school’s headteacher, Dorcus Ejang, said the institution has only 17 teachers on the government payroll out of a total staff establishment of 52, forcing the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) to pay the salaries of the remaining staff.
Ejang said the staffing shortage has persisted despite the school enrolling more than 500 students, adding that inadequate dormitory space has further strained learning conditions.
She also revealed that 34 students failed to report for the second term, describing the trend as a growing concern affecting several schools across the district.
Ejang said the school continues to operate under difficult circumstances because many parents had either delayed paying school fees or made only partial payments, a situation she said had affected the school’s ability to meet operational costs and support both teachers and learners. She appealed to parents to honour their financial obligations to enable the school to function effectively.
At Omoro Secondary School, headteacher Ocen Peter said more than 100 learners had not returned for the second term.
He attributed the absenteeism to widespread poverty and fears sparked by the recent Ebola outbreak, saying some parents believed the government would close schools.
Despite the challenges, Ocen said the school would not send learners away because of unpaid school fees, noting that many families are facing genuine financial hardships.
Acting Alebtong District Education Officer Moses Agel said the persistent teacher shortage stems from a government freeze on the recruitment of secondary school teachers.
He explained that districts have no authority to recruit secondary school teachers directly but only submit staffing requirements to the Ministry of Education and Sports, with deployments made through the Education Service Commission.
According to Agel, retirements, promotions and resignations have continued to widen staffing gaps across the district’s secondary schools. He, however, expressed optimism that understaffed schools would benefit once the recruitment ban is lifted.
On declining school attendance, Agel said economic hardship remains the biggest obstacle, with many parents struggling to meet education costs as they prioritise household food needs.
He added that although Alebtong has not recorded any Ebola cases, fear surrounding the outbreak also discouraged some parents from sending their children back to school.
Agel estimated that fewer than 5% of learners in most schools fail to return for the second term, largely because of financial constraints.
He said the district has stepped up community sensitisation campaigns urging parents to prioritise education while encouraging schools to adopt flexible school fees payment arrangements to ensure learners remain in class as families clear outstanding balances after the harvest season.
