KAMPALA — The Government has stepped up efforts to curb unauthorized academic activities during school holidays, with State Minister for Education and Sports, Hon. Peter Ogwang, calling on the public to report schools conducting illegal holiday coaching.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Wednesday, Ogwang expressed concern over a growing practice in which some schools allegedly turn official holiday breaks into extended academic terms.
The Minister said the practice undermines the purpose of school holidays, which are intended to give learners time to rest, engage in recreation and develop skills outside the classroom.
“This practice undermines the very purpose of school holidays, which are constitutionally and pedagogically intended for learner rest, recreation, and holistic development,” Ogwang told Parliament.
To strengthen enforcement, Ogwang urged members of the public to report schools found conducting unauthorized holiday coaching through the Ministry of Education and Sports’ toll-free whistleblowing line 0800 377771.
He attributed the growing demand for holiday coaching partly to increased pressure from parents who want their children to achieve better academic results and perform competitively in examinations.
However, the Minister cautioned that continuous classroom instruction during school breaks could undermine the broader development of learners.
He said holidays should instead provide children with opportunities to acquire practical and home-based skills, participate in domestic responsibilities and attend to their psychosocial well-being.
“Children must be afforded the opportunity to engage in life skills, domestic responsibilities, and psychosocial well-being during breaks. Academic overload contravenes the principles of balanced learner development,” he said.
Ogwang also pointed to funding constraints affecting the implementation of primary and secondary education programmes across the country.
He said addressing these resource gaps remains important in improving the quality of education and reducing reliance on holiday coaching as a means of improving academic performance.
The Minister’s remarks come as the Ministry of Education and Sports continues efforts to streamline the school calendar and promote compliance with education policies across learning institutions.
The Government is now urging parents, communities and other stakeholders to support the official school calendar and report institutions that violate regulations governing school holidays.
