Ministry of Education Must End Holiday Teaching in Schools
By Dickson Tumuramye For many families, school holidays are a precious opportunity to have children back home. Parents get to hear their stories, share meals, play together, and reconnect after a demanding term. Yes, having children at home can sometimes be stressful, especially for working parents. But that does not make the holiday unnecessary. A school holiday is part of a child’s education, not a wasted period. Yet across Uganda, some schools continue teaching, coaching and organising academic programmes during holidays, particularly for upper classes and candidates. This practice must stop. Some schools began their holidays last week, while the current school term officially ends on August 21. A holiday is not a luxury Children need time away from classrooms to rest physically, mentally, and emotionally. They need unstructured play, family interaction, sleep, recreation, chores and opportunities to explore interests outside textbooks. When every holiday becomes another classroom, ...