The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Andrew White, the Country Director of Bridge hit back saying Tweheyo sits on the board of Education International, a global federation of teachers unions with operations in 172 countries which Bridge Schools has had several runs-ins with.
“Tweheyo is on the board of EI and is among the people the union is using to fight us so that we do not provide quality education to the children of Uganda,” he told reporters at a press briefing last year at the school’s head offices in Kamwokya.
On Jan 23, UNATU issued a statement expressing shock over a decision by the World Education Forum to list Bridge International Academies as a gold partner for the event. The World Education Forum is an annual gathering held by education and skills ministers to debate future education policy. This year it took place in London from Jan 22-25 under the theme ‘teaching, testing, talent and technology’. UNATU’s statement said that Bridge was encouraging and providing for profit education in the poorest countries which could undermine efforts of achieving the sustainable development goal of free quality education for all children regardless of economic or social status.
Bridge’s fees structure in Uganda is seen as relatively affordable considering that fees for a single term range between Shs60, 000 to Shs80,000 (about the price of 20 loaves of bread).
Apart from Tweheyo, Matia Kasaija, the Finance Minister even went as far as saying that the schools were teaching homosexuality. Kasaija was presiding over a graduation ceremony at Uganda Martyrs University Nkozi.
“Why would such a high ranking minister make such an accusation without even substantiating it?” Bridge Layer Godwin Muhwezi wondered.
Last year when Curtis Riep, a Canadian researcher reportedly commissioned by Education International was arrested while sneaking around Bridge schools, a number of NGOs came out in his support. Action Aid was one of them and it went as far as questioning the ethics of Bridge’s modus operandi.
New team at ministry
However, there is some hope for a more amiable working relationship between Bridge Academies and the Ministry of Education. Last November, the ministry got a new Permanent Secretary, Alex Kakooza after a reshuffle by President Yoweri Museveni. Also new is the Undersecretary, Aggrey Kibenge, who told The Independent in an interview that he did not know much about Bridge schools since he assumed office in December.
The previous Permanent Secretary Rose Nassali Lukwago was tough on Bridge. She issued several warnings to the schools and did not sleep over injunctions that were meant to restrain the overreach of the ministry’s directives. In an interview with The Independent last year, she said “Bridge should stop running around in the media and instead comply with the orders we gave them.”
The Minister for Education Janet Museveni has stayed away from the issue leaving it to the technocrats at the ministry. Given that the new team could be more open to talks, Bridge officials are hopeful.
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editor@independent.co.ug
What is meant by “sub-standard” buildings? Bridge International Academies have are in a nascent phase and they have a long term plan to establish themselves as standard schools with time. Rome was built, but not in onde day.
What is meant by “sub-standard” buildings? Bridge International Academies are in a nascent phase and they have a long term plan to establish themselves as standard schools with time. Rome was built, but not in one day.