Concerned parents of St. Mary’s Girls Secondary School in Madera, Soroti, are demanding urgent intervention from the Bishop of Soroti Diocese, Rev. Dr. Eciru Joseph Oliach, and the Ministry of Education and Sports to address the mismanagement of the school under the leadership of Sr. Aguti Salome Mary.
St. Mary’s Girls, a Catholic-founded institution under the Congregation of Little Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi and a government-aided school, has been one of the top-performing schools in the Teso sub-region and across Uganda.
However, parents are increasingly worried about the declining standards of education, allegations of corruption, and administrative failures attributed to the current Headteacher, who they say has overstayed her tenure after reaching the government-mandated retirement age of 60 in March 2024.
Key Allegations Against Sr. Aguti Salome Mary
Parents have compiled a detailed list of grievances against the Headteacher, which include mismanagement of resources, abuse of power, and unprofessional conduct.
1. Failure to Adhere to Retirement Policy
Sr. Aguti Salome Mary clocked the retirement age in March 2024 as stipulated by Uganda’s public service policy.
Despite this, she has continued to hold office, with no clear justification for her extended stay. Parents feel her continued leadership is detrimental to the school’s progress.
2. Lack of Transparency and Accountability
Since the COVID-19 lockdown, neither the Headteacher nor the board has convened an Annual General Meeting, leaving parents in the dark regarding the school’s financial and administrative matters.
Fee increments have been imposed without prior consultation or explanation to parents, raising concerns about transparency.
3. Allegations of Misappropriation of School Resources
Misuse of Building Funds: For the past three years, parents have been contributing money for cement to construct a multipurpose hall.
However, the cement is allegedly diverted to construct Sr. Aguti’s private school, Padre-Opio Nursery and Primary School, located in Orwadai Cell, Soroti City.
Food Diversion: Food intended for students at St. Mary’s is reportedly ferried to her private school, leaving students underfed.
Other Stolen Resources: Mattresses, chairs, and reams of paper from the school are said to have been taken to her private enterprises.
4. Poor Leadership and Harassment of Staff
Harassment: Sr. Aguti is accused of slapping both teaching and non-teaching staff, including cooks, matrons, and even a teacher in front of students during assembly.
Unprofessional Delegation: Parents have reported that an office messenger, Mr. Opio Emmanuel, has been given authority over school finances and administrative decisions, undermining the proper leadership structure.
Unjustified Transfers: Three experienced teachers—examiners for Mathematics, Physics, and Geography—have been transferred for opposing her decisions. She has also threatened to transfer 10 more teachers.
5. Decline in Academic and Moral Standards
The school has experienced significant disruptions, including a student strike during Term III of 2024.
The strike occurred on the day of the Senior Six UACE briefing, forcing students to conduct the briefing at St. Peter’s Minor Seminary, contrary to UNEB guidelines.
Parents attribute the declining academic performance to the conflicts between the Headteacher and staff, which have negatively impacted the morale and commitment of the teaching staff.
6. Personal Wealth Acquisition in Violation of Catholic Vows
As a member of the Catholic congregation, Sr. Aguti is bound by vows of poverty.
However, parents claim she has acquired personal wealth, including purchasing a brand-new Toyota Harrier and building her private school using funds meant for St. Mary’s Girls.
Impact on the School
The school, which once boasted an enrollment of 1,200 students, has seen numbers drop to 700.
Parents are increasingly transferring their children to other schools, citing fears of poor performance and mismanagement.
Parents of candidate classes, particularly Senior Six, have expressed serious concerns about their children’s future, fearing that the ongoing administrative turmoil will compromise the quality of education and examination preparation.
Parents’ Plea for Intervention
In 2024, parents wrote a formal letter to the Bishop of Soroti Diocese outlining their grievances and demanding action.
However, no meaningful response has been received.
Parents are now issuing a stronger call for immediate action: Retirement of Sr. Aguti Salome Mary:
The government’s retirement policy must be enforced to allow for new leadership at St. Mary’s Girls.
Investigation of Mismanagement Claims:
The Ministry of Education and Sports should launch an independent investigation into the allegations of corruption, misuse of resources, and harassment of staff.
Restoration of Academic and Moral Standards:
A competent and transparent Headteacher must be appointed to rebuild the school’s reputation and ensure that students receive the quality education they deserve.
Reconciliation with Staff:
The school administration must work to restore trust and cooperation among teachers and support staff, which is essential for academic success.
Warning from Parents
If no action is taken by the Bishop or the Ministry of Education, parents have vowed to withdraw all their children from the school by the start of the 2025 academic year.
This mass withdrawal could further harm the school’s already dwindling enrollment and tarnish its long-standing reputation as a center of excellence.
A Cry to Save St. Mary’s Girls Secondary School
St. Mary’s Girls Secondary School has been a beacon of hope and achievement in the Teso sub-region for decades.
Parents believe that immediate intervention is necessary to save the school from further decline.
They call upon all stakeholders, including the Soroti Diocese and the government, to act swiftly and decisively for the sake of the students and the future of the institution.
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