Parents and heads of schools disappointed by ban on leavers' parties
By Namale Hajara Shahista
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| File Photo |
“As you are aware, the country is experiencing an
outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease. Given that some positive cases have now been
confirmed among learners from families of known contacts, it is necessary to
strengthen the existing infection prevention measures at school level,” said
Education official Ismael Mulindwa in a circular to all schools, from the
office of the ministry’s Permanent Secretary.
This circular means even planned Nursery School
Graduation Ceremonies and PTA General Meetings planned by parents, teachers and
pupils in schools will not take place this year.
In this regard some parents we managed to talk to have
not welcomed the move by the ministry saying there was no need for suspending children’s
parties at a time when their finals are around the corner.
Nalunga Ramulah a resident of Mpererwe and a mother of
a primary seven pupil from Gayaza primary
school says that the ministry would have left the
candidates continue with their preparations for the party but limit parents and
outsiders from attending rather than suspending the entire events.
“It took me some good time and money to buy my child
an outstanding outfit for the leavers party and a few days remaining to the
event, booom!! ministry comes out to stop the party not thinking twice, that is
not fare instead its just going to traumatize our kids Nalunga said.
However, Ssenabulya Ivan a resident of Mukono says
that as a parent that has a primary seven candidate has no problem with what
the ministry decided because it’s for the betterment of the children.
‘’I can still organize a small party for my child even
after exams at home, I don’t see a big deal in fighting with the school heads
and ministry over the ban, my fellow parents just need to accept and look out
for another alternative for the best of these children” Ssenabulya asserted.
Meanwhile the Director Zai Nursery and primary school
located in Namagoma Ssemyalo Shafik Kabazi says that by the time the ministry
announced the ban, his school had just finished the party/candidates Duwa and
so they were not that affected.
He adds that as the school, they usually carryout the
leavers party two weeks prior to exams in order to give the pupils time to
relax their minds properly having gone through all they want.
But according to Fatuma Buyungo, the Director Golden Balls
Nursery and Primary School located in Bunamwaya Ngobe Kampala, the ministry
should have called school heads and have a talk on how to operate these parties
under the ministry of health guidelines before banishing them.
“My pupils were very disappointed, crying blaming
themselves saying why them, everything happens to them even Covid19 affected
them, but all in all as teachers we are there to console them and make them
understand that its for their own good” she said”
Nabasirye Shindua a children’s counsellor at Tangerine
Consultants says that leavers party perhaps is a way to relieve stress and
momentarily forget about one’s hefty exam schedule.
“It’s pretty difficult not knowing what to expect
going into finals week, considering you have to read a lot of notes compiled in
the books, banning these parties can psychologically torture these young ones
because they are used to seeing these parties done for others and have even
taken time to prepare their minds for it by getting nice dresses and so on” says
Shindua.
Nabasirye however advises the teachers around these
pupils during the briefing on Monday 7th November 2022 to take time and console
them not to be disappointed and lose hope because of the ban on leavers’ parties.
The primary seven candidates totaling 749,809 will be
briefed on Monday, November 7, 2022, and start their examinations with the
Mathematics Paper on November 8, 2022, and the Social Studies paper in the
afternoon.
The next day, learners will sit for the integrated
science paper and end with English on November 9, 2022.
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