OYAM DISTRICT DIALOGUE MEETING ON EDUCATION SERVICE DELIVERY HELD ON THE 27 th APRIL 2019

1. OYAM DISTRICT DIALOGUE MEETING ON EDUCATION SERVICE DELIVERY HELD ON THE 27th APRIL 2019 AT JAREEN HOTEL OYAM The Apac Anticorruption Coalition - TAACC

2. Who we are? • Consist of currently 135 Individuals, NGOs, CBOs & media houses from Lango Sub Region who have paid membership, • Currently working in Apac, Kwania, Kole,Oyam, Dokolo & Amolatar districts, although permitted now to work throughout Uganda, • Registered with National Bureau for NGOs in Uganda since 2003 & with the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) as a Company limited by guarantee. • Major donors and partners to date are Democratic Governance Facility (DGF), Office of the Prime Minister (OPM)/Inspectorate of Government (IG), ACFIM, CSBAG, YIDO, GIZ amongst others. The Apac Anticorruption Coalition - TAACC

3. Our vision:“An empowered and well-governed society” Our Mission: To mobilize, empower and strengthen the capacity of citizens to engage and demand for effective and sustainable service delivery from duty bearers and other service providers. Our core values: Transparency and accountability, honesty, gender equality and equity, good governance, integrity, value for resources spent and rights to basic services The Apac Anticorruption Coalition - TAACC

4. The project and funding:This project is called; ”Strengthening Citizens’ Participation in Local Governance”, running for three years, 2019-2021 with funding from Democratic Governance Facility (DFG). The project is implemented in the six districts of Oyam, Kole, Apac, Kwania, Dokolo and Amolatarwith 55 sub counties and town councils.The project aimed at strengthening accountability mechanisms by supporting local governance institutions to ensure effective and efficient public service delivery . This is to be achieved through empowering citizens to proactively monitor, document, report and engage service providers as well as elected leaders in order to reduce misuse of public resources. The Apac Anticorruption Coalition - TAACC

5. Our Methodology: the Community Sore Card (CSC), a social accountability approach • A Social accountability tool used to generate issues affecting service delivery. • CSC is participatory and non confrontational but generates credible evidences for actions by stakeholders. • Action plans are developed after administering a CSC while issues that can be solved at the service points by stakeholders are addressed. • Issues that need the attention of higher authorities are documented & presented to them with the aim of improving service delivery. The Apac Anticorruption Coalition - TAACC

6. Credibility of the community score card: • A tested social accountability tool used by development practitioners in the form of an “action research” • It generates issues from the service providers, service seekers & leaders responsible for effective service delivery from a service delivery point. • It is participatory and inclusive & tells stakeholders what they are unable to themselves easily see • CSC acts as “a mirror” that gives the reflection of what the fact is from a service point. • It is usually administered at reported service points that have challenges by TAACC IBMs & TAACC staff verify the service point too for authenticity. The Apac Anticorruption Coalition - TAACC

7. This Scorecard Intervention In Oyam District Schools • This CSC was Conducted in 03 Primary Schools of Oyam district (Ototong P/S in Abok Sub County, Ogwet P/S in Ngai Sub County& Abang P/S in Myene Sub-County) • The Schools were identified to be having problems by TAACC trained Independent Budget Monitors (IBMs), the problems were verified by TAACC Programme Officers and therefore a need for a community scorecard intervention in the 3 schools The Apac Anticorruption Coalition - TAACC

8. Ototong Primary School: • The activity was Conducted on 4th March 2019 & interface meeting held on 05th March 2019, • 113 participants (83 male & 30 female) attended on 1st day , • 127 participants (97 male & 30 female) attended on 2nd day, • Participants were parents, teachers, PTA, SMCs, Oyam town council leaders among others, • The issues affecting education from the School were generated as shared below; The Apac Anticorruption Coalition - TAACC

9. Academic performance at Ototong Primary School • The school has never registered any pupil in 1st grade since 1984. • Some teachers have taken too long in Ototong P/S but with performance concerns. • Learners assessments by teachers is also reportedly not satisfactory, • Pupils Automatic promotion scheme is highly accelerated without due processes of pupil performance assessments. • There is Inadequate textbooks in the school that limits learning, • Parents’ negative attitude and teachers’ laxity as well as unprofessional conducts of the teachers, promote poor academic performance. • Co-curricular activities such as Games and sports are not complementing learning at the school as there are no balls and even goal post in Ototong P/S. The Apac Anticorruption Coalition - TAACC

10. Recommendations on poor academic performance: • Office of the DEO should reshuffle/transfer teachers of Ototong P/S with consideration of gender and age groups. • Initiate and or Strengthen workable academic performance strategies for increased academic performance in the school • Head teacher/sub county leadership to consider procuring scholastic materials e.g. textbooks and requirements for co-curricular activities; games and sports (Balls and goal posts), • Strengthen the Implementation of the relevant policies and laws against parents with negative attitude (Education ordinance, Education act – 2008, Sub County byelaws, etc.) • Teachers misconducts needs to be checked by rewards and sanctions committee to increase teachers effectiveness. Teachers who are excelling on their responsibilities should be rewarded. The Apac Anticorruption Coalition - TAACC

11. Parents’ attitude at Ototong Primary School • Parents involvement and participation in supporting and embracing school is grossly reducing that might affect education service delivery. This evident by their inability to provide scholastic materials and meals to their children, contribute funds such as PTA, Exams, Incentives and labour for school development. • Parents are reportedly forcing girls to get married off at an early age. This was found to be rampant among some parents of Ototong. Recommendations: • Parents to be engaged and encouraged to support their children to study by contributing school funds, packed meals and providing scholastic materials for the children, The Apac Anticorruption Coalition - TAACC

12. School leadership of Ototong Primary School: • The last AGM was organized in 2012, according to CSC participants. • Sub County leaders, parish leaders, PTA & SMC leaders do not monitor/ inspect the school on regular basis this has hindered effective and efficient teaching and learning in the school • School leaders do not implement school programs according to approved work plans & budget. • Local leaders & school leaders do not implement resolutions arising from school meetings. The Apac Anticorruption Coalition - TAACC

13. Recommendations • That new SMC be constituted to oversee the management Ototong P/S since the current SMC’s term of office has expired, • That the school Foundation body to nominate very active, reliable & able representatives into the SMC, • That the School leaders be oriented with skills on their oversight management functions, • That leaders at various levels , monitor and inspect the school as required, • School leaders to follow guidelines in the implementation of school programs. They should use approved work plan & budget of the school, The Apac Anticorruption Coalition - TAACC

14. Accountability of school funds & properties: • The head teacher is reported to have failed to account for UPE funds effectively, • PTA collected money from parents but did not account for such funds. This has escalated resistance among parents, • LC1s of the villages around the school collected money from parents but did not forward the money to PTA. No accountability was given. E.g. EbongSam (180,000/=), Olule Moses (47,000/=), OgenyCeasar (7,000/=), Tile Ronaldo (22,000/=), Eram Edward (65,000/=), Ogwang James (34,000/=) and Okello Nelson (68,000/=). • PTA exaggerates high figures of money at accountability level yet they spend less money at implementation level (OtooPatrick confessed that he dug the school pit latrine at a cost of 60,000 but PTA exaggerated the figure to 180,000 at accountability level) • Head teacher & SMC is reported to have sold school properties without permission these included; 04 classroom door & 03 windows, 18 iron sheets, 25 slashers, 5 gumboots & hand washing facilities, etc.) The Apac Anticorruption Coalition - TAACC

15. Recommendations on accountability issue: • Head teacher to provide agreeable accountability of UPE funds to the parents. • Chairman PTA to convene parents’ meeting every term and AGM yearly to give accountability of PTA funds to parents, • The list of all the LCs who swindled PTA funds be submitted to the sub county authorities (LCIII chairperson & ASA) of Abok Sub County for action and or LCIs involved in the scandal, refund the money they collected from parents before the action is taken, • PTA/SMC to implement approved work plan and budget to ensure monitoring, supervision and value for money work. • Sub Accountant of Abok Sub County to audit books of accounts of the school. • PTA & SMC leaders to return back the school doors & crest tanks that were sold without permission as well as return 41 iron sheets, 02 doors, crest tank and window shutters that were fraudulently lost in the school. The Apac Anticorruption Coalition - TAACC

16. Professional conducts of teachers at Ototong P/S: • Some teachers do not complete the syllabus as required, • Some teachers do not scheme and plan for their lessons effectively, • Other teachers do not follow the time table drawn by the school, • Staff absenteeism and late reporting were reported among some teachers, • Inability to prepare lesson plans and schemes of work were reported, • Drunkenness was reported among some teachers • Some male teachers reportedly practice adultery with women around the school (Atim Mike, Odongo Jimmy). • Some teachers engage pupils on their gardens during class time. The Apac Anticorruption Coalition - TAACC

17. Recommendations: • The head teacher should closely monitor the teachers performance at all times, • Teachers to follow their professional codes of conduct and practice their teaching profession effectively and efficiently, • The DEOs office to take tough disciplinary action on errand teachers on a termly basis through the reward and sanction committee of the district. • Local authorities should take lawful actions against teachers involved in adultery with women around the school. • The DEO to fast track the normal Transfer of teachers with regard to the community feed back about their performances. • Regular and multi dimensional school inspection, monitoring and supervision by strengthened to ensure compliance to standards. The Apac Anticorruption Coalition - TAACC

18. Teachers’ accommodation at Ototong P/S: • Out of 13 teachers at Ototong P/S, only 08 houses are available to them (01 twin house, 03 semi-permanent, 04 grass thatched huts with very poor workmanship and status) • The head teacher commutes from Ngai Sub County, 09 Kilometers from Ototong P/S. • There are 03 latrine stances for all the teachers at school. Recommendations: • PTA to mobilize parents to construct more houses for teachers, kitchen and latrines so that all teachers can be accommodated at school. • SMC to ensure that all teachers who have accommodation at school are residing at school and also rent houses for other teachers around the school The Apac Anticorruption Coalition - TAACC

19. School safety, hygiene & sanitation: • There are only 10 stances of pit latrines for 773 pupils at Ototong P/S, • The school has no clean and safe drinking water. The borehole broke down, • Community confidently defecate in classrooms at night. • Straying animals destroy sanitary properties of the school. Recommendations • Rehabilitate the broken down borehole at the school • A school watchman could be recruited and paid using PTA collections, • Regulate community members defecating in the classroom as well as straying animals • More latrine stances be allocated to Ototong P/S by the sub county & district, The Apac Anticorruption Coalition - TAACC

20. Ogwet Primary School CSC: • Conducted on 27th May 2019 & interface meeting held on 28th May 2019, • 105 participants (66 male & 39 female) attended on 1st day , • 114 participants (66 male & 48 female) attended on 2nd day, • Participants were parents, teachers, PTA, SMCs, Ngai Sub County leaders among others, The Apac Anticorruption Coalition - TAACC

21. Staff Accommodation at Ogwet P/S • There is only 01 twin house, and 02 grass thatched huts. Only 04 out of 08 teachers are being accommodated at Ogwet P/S • Only 01 kitchen is available. Only 02 stances of pit latrines exists for 08 teachers, Recommendations : • PTA to mobilize parents to construct more staff accommodation, kitchen facilities and pit latrines for teachers at Ogwet P/S. The sub county authorities should support the PTA/SMC on this area. • Parents to finish the construction of a staff house that is on-going at Ogwet P/S to accommodate 01 more teacher. The Apac Anticorruption Coalition - TAACC

22. Teachers’ professional conduct • Some teachers do not complete the syllabus, others do not prepare lesson plans and schemes of work, do not follow the school timetable, other teachers drink excessively and forget to teach, other teachers absent themselves without notifying the head teacher, others come very late at school (08:30 am onwards) and leave school early before 05: 00 pm. • Former head teacher (OBUA NICHOLAS) was involved in sexual affairs with pupils & women in the neighborhood (Caught at night with a woman & paid 300,000 to escape arrest) Recommendations • The head teacher and the sub county to step up monitoring of the teachers’ performance and sharing the performance report with the district at appropriate time, • Absenteeism of the teachers needs to be managed by the local authorities. • DEO to follow-up with the former head teacher (Obua Nicholas) to ensure that he does not continue committing similar unprofessional act in other schools. The Apac Anticorruption Coalition - TAACC

23. Academic Performance: • First grade was only registered at Ogwet in 2013 and since then, the school has registered none. • In 2018, pupils did not sit for PLE examinations whereas internal exams are passed with very low marks therefore Automatic promotion takes shape. • There is no deputy head teacher at Ogwet P/S. Current H/M has a lot of workload. Resolutions reached over the issue above: • Head teacher to closely monitor and supervise teachers through daily arrival book, supervise and approve lesson plans & scheme of work of teachers. The sub county and district authorities • Oyam district leaders to inspect Ogwet P/S & provide enough textbooks • DEO to post a substantial deputy head teacher & more teachers to Ogwet P/S. • Enforce the education ordinance & bye-laws to improve education sector. The Apac Anticorruption Coalition - TAACC

24. School Hygiene & Sanitation: • There are 05 stances of pit latrine at school shared by boys and girls. Boys have 04 stances while girls have only 01 stance. • Teachers do not have any stance of pit latrine other than the one at the head teachers home. • The school borehole broke down & no clean & safe drinking water is available. Resolutions reached over the issue above: • Ngai sub county authorities and Oyam DLG to allocate more pit latrines to save situations at Ogwet P/S • The school broken down facility to be considered for rehabilitation The Apac Anticorruption Coalition - TAACC

25. School furniture & infrastructure: • Pupils in lower primary sit on the floor because of inadequate desks, • School properties are stored in head teacher’s office because there is no store • Infrastructure for games & sports are not available at Ogwet P/S. Recommendations: • Ngai sub county to allocate more desks, staff houses and classrooms to support Ogwet P/S, • School leaders to plan for co-curricular activities, install equipment for games & sports to promote pupils’ talents. The Apac Anticorruption Coalition - TAACC

26. School Leadership & Finances: • SMC & PTA have not been trained on their roles & responsibilities, some of them demonstrate lack of capacity to play their oversight roles (mobilize parents to contribute funds etc.) • Former head teacher, Mr. Obua Nicholas, did not account for the UPE money received by Ogwet P/S, • PTA does not account for funds collected from parents Resolutions reached on the issues above: • School leaders to be trained with oversight management skills, • Sub Accountant to audit UPE & PTA books of accounts and make a report, • PTA to convene AGM and give accountability to parents following the audit report. • Head teacher to display accountability for UPE funds received quarterly, The Apac Anticorruption Coalition - TAACC

27. Abang Primary School CSC: • Conducted on 04th June 2019 & interface meeting held on 05th June 2019, • 89 participants (50 male & 39 female) attended on 1st day , • 86 participants (58 male & 28 female) attended on 2nd day, • Participants were parents, teachers, PTA, SMCs, Myene Sub County leaders among others, The Apac Anticorruption Coalition - TAACC

28. Academic performance: • Poor academic performance at Abang P/S is attributed to: • Inadequate staff (11 teachers teaching a total of 824 pupils). English language is not being taught in Abang P/S ever since the Teacher passed away (RIP) • Inadequate textbooks & Inadequate school inspection by both sub county & Oyam district officials • Unethical conducts of some teachers including; Drinking alcohol even during working hours, laxity & inability to complete syllabuses, prepare lesson plans & schemes of work, follow time table, etc. Some teachers abscond from duty. • Parents poor attitude including; Inability to pay school contribution, provide meals for the children at school and provide scholastic materials • Office of the DEO keeps transferring head teachers at AbangP/S time and again, 04 head teachers in five years. The Apac Anticorruption Coalition - TAACC

29. Recommendations • Oyam district to supply more textbooks to Abang P/S, • Head teacher and sub county leaders to closely monitor and supervise the staff members, write reports & notify the office of the DEO for action, • Teachers who drink alcohol during working hours should stop forthwith to allow them perform their duties. • There is need to strengthen the implementation of the available bye-laws and ordinances to improve education service delivery. The Apac Anticorruption Coalition - TAACC

30. School leadership & finances: • School does not have operation and maintenance plan. A lot of desks have broken down & never repaired, • School leaders do not know their oversight duties. Role conflict, apathy & lack of voluntarism are evidenced among most members of the SMC & PTA, • The last AGM was conducted in 2017, • School leaders do not implement resolutions of school meetings conducted this demotivates the parents. • The school does not have any bank account to operate PTA & school development funds. Worst still, Money is collected & spent at source, • Lack of accountability of school funds was also cited to be demoralizing parents from contributing moreto school development • School and sub county leaders do not inspect the school regularly to follow-up on the school activities & projects, The Apac Anticorruption Coalition - TAACC

31. Recommendations • Sub Accountant of Myene Sub County to conduct audit for FY 2017/18 & FY2018/19 on all the PTA & UPE books of accounts at Abang P/S, • PTA to convene AGM and retire accountability of PTA funds to the parents following the audit report conducted, • Sub County Chief to invite former head teacher (Mr. Owiny Alex) to Abang P/S to answer accountability cases against him, • SMC/PTA are to open a bank account to operate PTA & other school contributions & finances, • SMC/PTA to ensure that school work plans & budgets are drawn. Any money spent at school should be in line with the work plan & budget, • SMC/PTA to draft school operation & maintenance plan to help in the maintenance of school assets, • Oyam district & Sub county leaders to implement bye-laws & ordinances for improved education service delivery The Apac Anticorruption Coalition - TAACC

32. Teachers’ Accommodation: • Only 05 out of 11 teachers are accommodated at school, the rest commute from outside the school, • Some teachers share one house hence inconveniencing them, others rent their own accommodation with their own money. • No kitchen have been built for the teachers Recommendations • Parents to construct more staff houses for teachers, • Parents to construct kitchen for the teachers at Abang P/S, The Apac Anticorruption Coalition - TAACC

33. Current Achievements in Ogwet P/S • A letter was written to the sub county chief of Ngai about an errand teacher (Okello Douglas) by the head teacher. • Teachers’ attendance has shot up to 95%. No teacher is absenting himself except Mr. OkelloDouglas • Pupils’ attendance has grown up by 60% (P.1 (30%) • Children escaping from school has stopped ( they stay in school up to 5:00 pm) • AGM was conducted on Friday 21stJune 2019. Parents turned up in large number on the day of the meeting (up to 90%). • Parents were inducted on the action plan drawn, they were much impressed. The Apac Anticorruption Coalition - TAACC

34. Achievements in Ogwet continued • The school has agreed to pay Askari with funds collected from parents 3,000/= annually, 1000/= per term. • Applications for Askari are being received at school already, Interviews shall be conducted and recruitment done. • The broken down borehole was repaired on 22 June, 2019 and is good working condition. Pupils and teachers can now draw clean and safe drinking water from the school. • Receipt book has been printed for all payments of the school and is being issued to parents upon payment. • Parents are interested in PTA collection. During the AGM, parents raised the amount of money by 100% (from 5000/= to 10,000/=). Contribution for water is 500 shs per child. Record keeping has improved greatly, The Apac Anticorruption Coalition - TAACC

35. Achievements in Ogwet p/s continued • The School books of accounts are being audited by the sub Accountant, the processes started on the 20thJune, 2019 and is being audited for FY2017/2018 including 2019. • Teachers are now preparing schemes of work & lesson plans adequately. • New members of the PTA were elected during the AGM of 21st June. • A letter was written to the office of the DEO by the head teacher requesting for deputy head teacher and more teachers. A follow-up is being made by the head teacher. • 19 pupils has been registered for PLE this year 2019 (04 girls and 15 boys). The Apac Anticorruption Coalition - TAACC

36. Achievements in Ototong • Head teacher wrote a report to the office of the DEO regarding errand teachers for disciplinary action. • All the LCs surrounding the school (except Ebong Sam) who fraudulently collected money from community without submitting to the PTA refunded the money. (Over 400,000/=). • Annual General Meeting (AGM) was conducted on the 17th June, 2019 at the school. • Accountability of school funds (PTA) was given to the parents and they were convinced. • New PTA members were elected by the AGM on the 17th June, 2019. • Training of new members of the SMC were conducted on 22nd June, 2019 by the office of the DEO. • Construction of one kitchen has been completed and is being used by a tea • Staff meetings were conducted at Ototong P/S and teachers were reminded of their professional ethics. The Apac Anticorruption Coalition - TAACC

37. END OF THE ROADThank you!APWOYO MATEK!Asante Sana!Merci beaucoup The Apac Anticorruption Coalition - TAACC