KIBOGA – A head teacher in Kiboga district is in trouble with furious parents for speaking English all the time.
Some parents have demanded that Joyce Kibaate, the head teacher of Kagobe Primary School, be transferred immediately as a result.
Kibate is only a few months old at the school, which is located in Kapeke sub-county. She was transferred there from Masiriba Primary School in Bukomero sub-county.
The parents accused Kibaate of speaking English which many of them said they do not understand.
They also claimed that she had other personal and administrative weaknesses which were affecting the academic standards of the school.
This was revealed during a meeting attended by local leaders, officials from the district and parents at the school on Tuesday.
The parents also complained that Kibaate does not convene teachers’ and parents’ meetings, makes pupils miss lessons and leave school at night, does not account for universal primary education funds to the management, which has led to the decline in enrolment in the school.
“Guests, you can hear for yourselves. Despite your presence, she continues to use English so that parents do not understand what she is telling you,” said Latiffa Mutyaba, a parent.
“We rejected Madam Kibaate right from the beginning because we knew well that even at Masiriba Primary School, she was rejected by parents, but the former chief administrative officer, Roselyn Adong Ruhoni, refused to listen to us,” she added.
Kibaate, however, vowed to continue using English, saying as a professional teacher, she is supposed to use the language so as to encourage the pupils to learn it.
Misinformation
Kibaate added that all accusations against her were based on misinformation.
“This can be supported by the fact that the day I took over office as head teacher, many of you stormed the school compound in protest.
“That position you took has compromised your judgment regarding what I have done for the school in the few months I have been there,” she said.
Kagobe parish chief, James Mujuni, who chaired the meeting, advised the head teacher to find an amicable way of resolving grievances between the school administration and parents.
“Please don’t take it that everybody is educated. Use the language every parent understands,” he said.
Kiboga district information officer Alex Bamuchaye said the district will find an amicable solution to the standoff.
By Nelson Kiva, The New Vision
