Hoima city teachers reject monitoring system
Nyamahunge noted that 19 out of 32 schools were found to be compliant, representing a 57% success rate.
School headteachers attending the meeting at Maranatha Primary School in Mparo cell in Hoima east division, (Photos by Peter Abaanabasazi)
By Peter Abaanabasazi
Journalists @New Vision
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Hoima city-based headteachers and their teachers have been accused of failing to use the Teacher Effectiveness and Learner Achievement (TELA) system.
The system is a performance management platform that was introduced by the Government to monitor teacher, headteacher and learner attendance, as well as timetable implementation in schools.
It's a smartphone-based system designed to provide real-time data on teacher presence and classroom activities, aiming to improve school monitoring and reduce absenteeism.
The system uses GPS and biometric technology to track whether teachers and headteachers are present and engaged in their duties. TELA was also meant to monitor lesson implementation, offering insights into what is being taught in schools at any given time.
Hoima city school inspector Carolyn Nyamahunge says teachers and headteachers are supposed to log into the system either by their face or thumb.
However, while issuing the inspection report during the beginning of the second term, headteacher’s meeting for both government and private schools at Maranatha primary school in Mparo cell in Hoima east division, Nyamahunge said Hoima city was ranked worst in terms of using the system.
She noted that during the inspection, they discovered that several teachers in most schools have largely ignored the system despite its rollout.
She noted that 19 out of 32 schools were found to be compliant, representing a 57% success rate.
“A teacher is supposed to work for eight hours, when a teacher reports to duty, they are supposed to clock in as well as during departure time. When this teacher clocks in in the morning and forgets to clock out, they will be considered as having been absent,” she said.
Frustrated
Hoima City Principal Education Officer Johnson Kusiima Baigana was furious about the performance adding that the education department will not tolerate it.
Johnson Kusiima Baigana, the Hoima city principal education officer addressing the headteacher.
Kusiima said all teachers were trained before the TELA system was rolled out.
“If you know that your school has an issue in operating these phones, come to us we shall help you. If there are stubborn teachers, report them to my office, we shall handle them,” he warned.
Technology challenges
Fred Musinguzi, the headteacher of government-aided Duhaga Boys school, said the phones have several issues affecting their operation.
He noted that tangents have network issues and do not keep power, among other faults, yet there is no specific place where they can taken for repair.
He also said some teachers are stubborn, adding that sometimes they refuse to clock in and as a headteacher, he cannot force them.
He called on the city education department to intervene and help the headteachers to ensure effective use of the machines.
School operating illegally
Hoima city education officer in charge of Early childhood education (ECD) Carolyn Kyomuhendo said most ECD schools are operating illegally. She noted that several schools are operating without being registered and licensed.
She noted that registration is free and wondered why schools do not want to register and urged school managers to register before the education department takes action.
Lack of sanitary facilities
In her inspection reporter Nyamahunge also expressed concern that several government-aided schools in the city are facing challenges of sanitary facilities. She noted that mixed schools have latrines shared by male and female learners, while in others, teachers are sharing with learners.
She added that schools such as public primary schools and St Bernadette primary schools have a big enrolment and inadequate structure resulting in congestion.