In a recent parliamentary session, Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa stepped forward to defend the prolonged absence of Minister for Education and Sports, Mrs. Janet Museveni, addressing mounting concerns raised by legislators regarding her non-attendance during critical parliamentary sittings.
Tayebwa attributed Minister Museveni's absence to the stringent COVID-19 restrictions imposed on both her and the President, highlighting the impracticality of their daily appearances in the House under the prevailing circumstances.
"The absence of the minister is as a result of the COVID restrictions on her and the person of the President," Tayebwa clarified, seeking to assuage apprehensions regarding the senior minister's continued non-participation in parliamentary deliberations.
The issue was initially raised by Kira Municipality MP Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, who voiced apprehension over the minister's prolonged absence, particularly during discussions pertinent to education-related matters.
"The continuous absence of the senior minister of education is responsible for the old reports," Ssemujju lamented, drawing attention to the potential ramifications of Minister Museveni's non-attendance on the timely resolution of critical issues.
Notwithstanding Minister Museveni's absence, the Ministry of Education and Sports presented two pivotal reports to Parliament during the session. One report focused on the transition of the upper curriculum under the new competence-based curriculum, while the other addressed the concerning trend of school administrators charging exorbitant fees to learners.
State Minister for Education, Joyce Moriku Kaducu, provided comprehensive insights into the new curriculum for upper secondary education, revealing plans for the development of a curriculum comprising 25 subjects at this level. However, legislators raised pertinent concerns regarding the dearth of instructional materials to support the implementation of the new curriculum, as well as the perceived lack of consultation with parents.
Addressing the issue of excessive school fees, Minister Moriku announced stringent measures, emphasizing that government schools are prohibited from obtaining commercial loans without prior clearance from the Ministry of Finance. However, the debate on the report concerning exorbitant school fees was abruptly halted amidst allegations of outdated information, impeding further deliberations on the matter.
Despite Deputy Speaker Tayebwa's defense of Minister Museveni's absence, Ssemujju reiterated concerns about the impact of her non-attendance on the timely resolution of critical issues. However, the Deputy Speaker stood firm, underscoring the prevailing COVID-19 restrictions as the primary factor influencing the senior minister's continued absence from parliamentary sittings
