By Dr. Gad A. Rugaju, PhD
*STATEMENT OF CONCERN*
Dr. Gad A. Rugaju, PhD, ascertains that *students’ and teachers’ exhaustion and fatigue are major causes of poor performance in schools today*.
Dr. Rugaju further argues that *psychologically, both teachers and students need holidays to rejuvenate their brains and refocus* after a minimum break of three weeks in order to return for productive work.
Unfortunately, most Head Teachers defy this rest period in the name of *“holiday teaching”*. This practice is killing our education system in Uganda. To many Head Teachers, holiday teaching is not about learning — it is *basically meant to extort money from students and parents*, yet both teachers and students are being denied their constitutional and professional right to rest.
*THE PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE OF HOLIDAYS*
The human brain is not a machine. Continuous work without rest leads to burnout.
*For Students:*
1. *Cognitive Rejuvenation*: The brain needs time to consolidate what has been learned. Continuous lessons without a break cause mental fatigue, reduced concentration, poor memory retention, and low academic performance.
2. *Emotional Well-being*: Holidays reduce stress, anxiety and “school burnout”. Students return with renewed motivation, creativity and discipline.
3. *Social Development*: Time at home with parents and community builds values, responsibility, and mental balance that cannot be taught in class.
*For Teachers:*
1. *Professional Rejuvenation*: Teaching is emotionally and mentally demanding. Holidays allow teachers to rest, plan better schemes, and attend to personal health. An exhausted teacher cannot deliver quality.
2. *Prevention of Burnout*: The WHO recognizes teacher burnout as a key cause of absenteeism and poor instruction. Rest prevents this.
3. *Improved Output*: A rested teacher returns with new energy, new teaching methods, and better classroom management.
*For Parents:*
1. *Family Bonding*: Holidays give parents time to guide, mentor and monitor their children. This strengthens discipline and moral upbringing.
2. *Financial Relief*: Parents are burdened with continuous “holiday lesson fees”. Respecting holidays protects parents from illegal extortion.
3. *Home-School Partnership*: When students rest at home, parents can observe learning gaps and support revision in a natural way.
In short: *Rest is not a waste of time. It is an investment in performance.*
*ADHERENCE TO THE SCHOOL CALENDAR SET BY THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND SPORTS – MoES*
The *Ministry of Education and Sports* sets and gazettes the *National School Calendar* every year. The calendar clearly provides for:
1. *Three Terms* of teaching and learning.
2. *Official Holidays/Breaks* of about 3 weeks between terms for rest, co-curricular activities and preparation.
3. *No teaching during gazetted holidays* unless with express written permission from MoES.
*Policy Position:*
According to *The Education Act, 2008 Section 4* and *MoES Circulars on the School Calendar*, all Government, Government-aided and Private schools *MUST adhere to the official school calendar*.
Holiday teaching conducted for commercial purposes is illegal and undermines national education policy. It turns schools into business ventures instead of centers of learning.
The purpose of the calendar is to:
1. Ensure uniformity and quality across the country.
2. Protect the health and welfare of learners and teachers.
3. Allow for inspection, co-curricular activities, and teacher professional development.
*WARNING TO DISTRICT EDUCATION OFFICERS AND INSPECTORS OF SCHOOLS*
In view of the above, I hereby call upon all *District Education Officers – DEOs* and *Inspectors of Schools* in Kanungu District and the entire country to:
1. *Strictly enforce and implement the School Calendar set by MoES*. Any school found conducting illegal holiday teaching must be summoned, cautioned and sanctioned.
2. *Carry out impromptu inspections* during holidays to ensure schools are closed and students are at home.
3. *Protect parents and learners from extortion* in the name of “holiday lessons”.
4 *Submit reports* to the Office of the RDC and MoES on schools violating the calendar.
Let it be known: *The right to rest for teachers and learners is not negotiable*. Any Head Teacher who continues to defy the calendar is sabotaging government policy and compromising the future of our children.
*CONCLUSION*
Education is a marathon, not a sprint. If we exhaust our teachers and students, we shall continue to get poor results.
*Holidays are not a luxury. They are a psychological necessity* for the brain to rest, for families to bond, and for the education system to produce quality.
Let us go back to the law. *Let us respect the MoES School Calendar.*
*Dr. Gad A. Rugaju, PhD*
Deputy Resident District Commissioner
Kanungu District
Tel:+256772912643
Website: www.amanetug.com
