By Our Reporter
Every day during break and lunch hours, Nasole Sharon, a primary four student at Canon Ibula Primary School in Iganga District, is tasked with selling sweets and sweet bananas for her senior female teacher, Kyova Lydia.
When asked why she is involved in this business, the young girl explained that her teacher had instructed her to sell on her behalf, and for a few days, the teacher would reward her with a plate of posho.
“The business is not mine; it belongs to Teacher Lydia, who asked me to sell for her. Sometimes, she gives me posho as a reward,” Sharon explained.
The young girl also shared incidents where she had given excess change to customers, only to face consequences when explaining the mistake to her teacher.
Sharon is not alone in this practice. Several other pupils have been seen selling cassava chips, pancakes, and sweet bananas around the school compound.
When asked about the child labor activities taking place at the school, the headmaster denied knowledge of the situation but promised to investigate the matter further.
This issue came to light during an unexpected inspection visit by education authorities, who were conducting a review of 16 primary schools in Iganga as part of a task assigned by the Ministry of Education and Sports.
Waibi Joswa, the Inspector of Schools for Iganga, confirmed that the case had caught their attention. He assured the public that investigations were underway, and disciplinary action would be taken against any teachers found employing students for such tasks.
“As a district, we are working hard to create a safe environment for all learners,” Waibi stated. “Pupils attend school to learn, not to be involved in business or work on behalf of teachers. This is unacceptable, and we are treating the matter with the seriousness it deserves.”
