COSASE grills officials over teacher confirmation delays and incomplete Education Service Commission

Parliament’s Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) has raised alarms over the prolonged delays in confirming newly appointed teachers and the persistent understaffing of the Education Service Commission. During a recent meeting with officials from the Ministry of Education and Sports and the Education Service Commission, COSASE Chairperson Muwada Nkunyingi highlighted a significant gap between the number of teachers appointed and those confirmed.

Out of 16,200 teachers slated for recruitment, only 13,611 had been confirmed, leaving over 3,626 teachers in limbo. Nkunyingi expressed concern that the complex bureaucratic process, involving multiple stages from schools to the Ministry and finally the Education Service Commission, not only frustrates teachers but also opens avenues for fraudulent activities. The committee emphasized that this administrative red tape hinders the efficient processing of confirmation applications.

Further scrutiny revealed that the Education Service Commission itself is not fully constituted, contrary to constitutional provisions requiring a chairperson and six other members. When questioned, the Chairperson, Samuel Abimelech Luboga, explained the absence of some members due to ongoing recruitment interviews. However, the committee noted that a deputy chairperson and one member remain unappointed.

Minister of State for Sports, Peter Ogwang, acknowledged the sector’s staffing challenges, stating that the education sector operates at only 65% of its required staff capacity, with a 35% vacancy rate. He attributed these shortages to recruitment restrictions and insufficient wage provisions, compounded by a halt in government recruitment following payroll irregularities in 2022. The ministry’s request for Shs69 billion to hire critical staff for the competency-based curriculum was also reportedly unfunded.

While the Permanent Secretary, Kedrace Turyagenda, contended that the ministry acts expeditiously on confirmation applications, he suggested that delays often originate at the school level. The committee’s findings underscore the urgent need to streamline confirmation processes and ensure the full operational capacity of the Education Service Commission to better serve the education sector.