Rwenjeru Primary, A School With Only 7 Teachers

This critical staffing gap has limited the individual attention students receive, a situation school administrators say is affecting the overall performance and educational experience.

Rwenjeru Primary School, a government-aided institution in Mbarara City North, is grappling with a severe teacher shortage.

Only seven teachers are available, responsible for 485 pupils.

This critical staffing gap has limited the individual attention students receive, a situation school administrators say is affecting the overall performance and educational experience.

“Our staff numbers are simply too low to meet the needs of all our students,” said John Bosco Nuwagaba, the headteacher of Rwenjeru Primary School.

“Most of the teachers aren’t substantive, and we don’t have enough senior teaching staff. Without proper appointments and confirmations, it’s impossible to give students the quality education they deserve.”

While the school has attempted to hire private teachers to alleviate some of the pressure, funding constraints make it difficult to support these additional instructors, leaving the few government-appointed teachers overwhelmed.

“Seven teachers can’t cover the needs of 485 pupils. Some can’t handle multiple subjects, stretching them too thin,” Nuwagaba explained.

The teacher shortage is particularly challenging for P7 students who rely on strong academic support as they prepare for their Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE). With only one appointed teacher dedicated to the P7 class, the school has brought in private instructors to assist.

“We hope these candidates will pass,” Nuwagaba said, “but we need stable staffing to support the rest of the school as well.”

Rwenjeru Primary is not alone. Similar staffing issues persist across Mbarara, where early teacher retirements are exacerbating the problem.

Assy Abireebe Tumwesigire, the City Clerk, noted that many teachers in Mbarara City have retired early due to challenging working conditions and low pay.

“We’re committed to filling these roles as soon as possible,” he said, “but without additional support from the central government, recruitment remains difficult.”

The impact of the teacher shortage is visible, with over 80 teachers in Mbarara City opting for early retirement within the past two years, creating a significant gap.

Rural schools like Rwenjeru Primary are hit hardest, struggling to meet students’ needs on constrained budgets.