Over a hundred parents endeared the morning rain to attend the Parents-Teachers’ Association Meeting at Nsumbi Bridge Academy in Nansana Wakiso district. The parents wanted an opportunity to meet officials from the Ministry of Education whom they wanted to hold responsible for the closure of Bridge Schools around the country.

The Chairperson of the National PTA John Mary Nyanzi was puzzled why the Education Ministry was focusing all its resources to close down Bridge Schools that enabled children of low-income earners to attain a decent education. “It actually our concern to come up and try to find out as to why these Bridge Schools are being closed.” Said, John Mary Nyanzi – Chairperson, Bridge Schools National PTA.

“And this appeal goes straight to the Hon. Minister the First Lady, kindly madam, we request you to talk to us the parents, it's only what we want. Think about the low-income earners who can’t really afford paying the 2.5 million for their children to get a quality education but they can afford to pay these affordable fees of Bridge Schools.” Said, Noerine Nassazi – Secretary, Bridge Schools National PTA.

“The government and the budget allocations are very good to care for all these UPE schools but our civil society is not really doing its groundwork to really help these schools come up. That’s why we are looking at Bridge as being the savior.” Said, Yonah Kataremwa – Member, Bridge Schools National PTA.

Dr. Cleophus Mugenyi, the Commissioner in the Education Standards Directorate said until the Bridge Schools get the required licenses, pupils should instead be taken to alternative UPE schools. “For the past 2 years, I have been engaging Bridge Schools.

They know the procedure to be followed for all the schools to be licensed but they have adamantly refused to follow these procedures. You remember the end of last years the PS of Ministry of Education and Sports issued a circular to all proprietors of private schools that they should not reopen unless their schools are licensed. But Bridge Academy went ahead to open.” Said, Dr. Cleophus Mugenyi – Commissioner, Education Standards Directorate.

The Bridge Schools have performed well in the national exams with all the 46 candidates who sat for PLE in 2017 passing. However, in spite of this performance, the Ministry of Education insisted that the schools will remain closed which leaves over 10,000 pupils facing an uncertain future.