Bushenyi Faces School Dropout Crisis Due to Shortage of Special Needs Teachers

Bushenyi District is grappling with a severe shortage of special needs educators, putting over 420 students with impairments at risk of dropping out of school. Nicholas Natuha, the District Education Officer for Special Needs, highlighted that only nine trained teachers serve the area after accounting for administrative roles.

“We are very few people trained in special needs education,” Natuha stated at a recent workshop, noting just three specialists skilled in sign language for deaf students. This leaves many learners with physical, visual, and hearing challenges underserved.

Natuha pointed to a sharp decline in enrollment from Primary Six to Seven and Senior One, attributing it to unmet needs that neglect students. Despite this, all five special needs candidates passed last year’s Primary Leaving Exams (PLE) successfully.

At the secondary level, the challenges intensify. Nelson Babimanya from Ibanda University noted that many primary completers fail to transition due to untrained teachers and improper registration with the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB), denying them essential aids like transcribers.

Students like Pofia Kabugho, a Senior Four pupil at Bishop Ogez High School, face ridicule and fast-paced teaching that ignores their needs. Teachers such as Daphine Ahimbisibwe report students idling without proper instruction, while others welcome emerging training programs but lament missing equipment.

Calls grow for the Ministry of Education to prioritize hiring specialists to uphold the Disability Act and nurture these students’ unique capabilities.

Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)