Bukedi Schools Adapt to Government Ban on Holiday Teaching

Schools across the Bukedi sub-region in eastern Uganda are adjusting their academic strategies following the government’s directive to halt teaching during school holidays. Head teachers are emphasizing the importance of effective planning and better utilization of the official school calendar to cover the curriculum.

For years, holiday periods have been a common time for schools to offer extra lessons, revision, and remedial classes, particularly for students preparing for national examinations. However, many schools visited by Daily Monitor confirmed they have suspended these activities, encouraging learners to use the break for rest, family time, and personal development instead.

Head teachers like Samuel Wakholi of Namirembe Day and Boarding Primary School see the holiday break as crucial for learners to recover from the academic rigor of a term. He acknowledged that some institutions had previously relied on holiday teaching to compensate for insufficient instruction during the term, noting that this practice was often done “illegally.” The directive, he believes, is aimed at benefiting students.

The ban also addresses concerns from parents about the added financial burden of holiday lessons, including fees, transportation, and meals. Education stakeholders are calling for improved lesson planning, regular assessments, and close monitoring of students during the regular term to ensure no one falls behind.

While some educators, such as Eriya Poli, head teacher of Budaka Family Help Project Primary School, acknowledge potential negative impacts for students who benefited from extra revision, district education officials have largely welcomed the decision. Christopher Wamika, Kibuku District Education Officer, stated that some schools had exploited holiday teaching to “extort money from parents.” He added that the ban would compel teachers to be more diligent throughout the term, as they could no longer rely on holiday catch-ups.

District officials are urging schools to complete syllabuses within the official academic calendar and not to seek loopholes around the ban. The expectation is that this will lead to more focused teaching and better academic planning, while providing students with valuable time for rest and other activities outside the classroom.