School administrators and headteachers in Bunyangabu District have expressed concern over losses incurred after the Ministry of Education and Sports suspended all school educational trips and tours following a series of fatal road accidents involving learners.
The nationwide suspension came after a tragic school bus crash in Kapchorwa District that claimed the lives of 24 pupils including one adult who were returning from an educational tour to Sipi Falls.
Grace Kabagaya, a Geography teacher at Wisdom High School in Rwimi, said the directive came at a time when the school had already finalized preparations for students’ field study tours.
Kabagaya urged traffic police and other responsible authorities to strengthen inspections of school vehicles to ensure they are mechanically sound before being allowed onto the road.
Kyokusaba Ronald, the Deputy Head teacher of Rwimi Parents School, said the suspension is likely to negatively affect the implementation of Uganda’s competence-based curriculum, which emphasizes practical learning and firsthand experience.
He noted that educational tours enable learners to observe and interact with real-life geographical, historical and scientific features, making learning more meaningful.
Meanwhile, Mugenyi Philmon, the Deputy Headteacher of Royal High School Mujunju, also emphasized that field tours are an essential component of practical learning.
He suggested that instead of an indefinite suspension, the Ministry of Education and Sports should develop and enforce clear safety guidelines to enable schools to conduct educational trips safely.
Mugenyi further advised schools to ensure that buses used for educational tours are regularly serviced and operated by qualified drivers to minimize the risk of accidents.
Following the Kapchorwa tragedy, government announced tougher transport safety measures, including mandatory vehicle inspections, stricter vetting of drivers and a review of regulations governing school excursions before educational trips can resume.
