By Mike Rwothomio

West Nile: The Zombo District Education Committee has tasked parents of Padea Primary School to nominate three names of qualified teachers for vetting to become the school headteacher.

This was after angry parents early this week locked out the school headteacher Walter Onim, together with his deputy on allegations of corruption and other vices.

In a September 21 crisis meeting that brought many parents, officials from the District Education Department headed by Nickolas Odeba the District Education Officer (DEO) and the Resident District Commissioner (RDC), angry parents stood firm and threatened to withdraw all their children from the school if the head teacher.

Resolutions:

1. Parents should get their head teacher.
   He thus told parents to nominate three names of teachers with a degree holder and on the level of a Senior Education Assistant.
2. Nominees should be those already in service.
3. Since the school had no functional School management Committee, he tasked the foundation body to submit a file of the newly appointed SMCs to the district on Monday, September 25, such that the committee could be inaugurated on Friday next week for effective management of the school.
4. The school management committee has also been challenged to follow the rightful channel of the law taking into account that the parents’ action contravened the law.
5. Immediate Annual General Meeting at the school for practical evaluation of all activities of the school for the past year.

Immaculate Atimango the UNATU Chairperson for Zombo District called for peace and a better working relationship between parents and the remaining staff adding that no one is perfect, and forgiveness is key.

She also tasked Parents to send children to school since Calm has returned to the school after one week of inconvenience.

The Zombo District Sports Officer Aziz Onim has acknowledged the school’s leadership gap and recommended that leaders’ capacity building be done to equip them.

Padea Primary School established in 1973, has a total enrollment of 1700 pupils. It’s among 92 public primary schools in Zombo.

Parents, Local Leaders React

Geoffrey Abinga the Clan Chief of Padea pleaded with the DEO to rescind his statement saying it’s the mandate of the district to choose any staff for the school.
“I know parents have looked at the mistakes of the head teacher and rejected him, but the condition you have set for us is impossible. Please listen to our plea and do the needful, we beg you to look for that person for us, we can’t look for people with such qualifications,” Abinga pleaded.

Douglas Rupiny the District Councilor of Padea Town Council described the D.E.O. decision as impossible.
“We are pleading with the DEO to Change his mind and decision because the directive that we get our people with qualifications to be appointed is impossible,” Rupiny told this mighty publication after the meeting.

Currently, the fate of the embattled headteacher is uncertain but his deputy has been retained in the school as a class teacher.

The Resident District Commissioner of Zombo Rtd Lt Col Pius Alitema has called for peaceful co-existence between the staff and parents before recommending that the D.E.O. takes temporary charge of the school.
“As the chairperson District Security Committee, let the DEO take over this school with immediate effect until you get a replacement. This is for security reasons,” Alitema said.

Schools with Previously resolved cases

Manzi Primary School in Jangokoro Sub County, Got Cam Primary School in Warr Sub_County, Zumbo Lower Primary School in Zombo Town Council and Owinyu Plielu Primary School.

Mandates

The District Service Commission derives its mandate from Article 200 of the Constitution of Uganda (1995) as amended and section 55(1) to (8) of the Local Government Act, Cap. 243’

It Has the power to appoint persons to hold or act in any office in the service of a District or Urban council, including the Power to confirm appointments, exercise disciplinary control over persons holding or acting in such offices and remove those persons from office but the only exception being the Chief Administrative Officers, Deputy Chief Administrative Officers, Town clerks and Deputy Town Clerks of city and Municipalities who are appointed by the Public Service Commission – however, Deputy Town Clerk of a municipality is set by the District Service Commission.