Lira bans weekend teaching, holiday homework over mental health concerns

Lira City authorities have with immediate effect banned weekend teaching and holiday homework, citing growing concerns over mental health among learners.

The directive, announced Tuesday, follows a stakeholders’ meeting at Lira Primary School attended by private school proprietors, head teachers from government schools, security officials and city education authorities.

Lira City Education Officer, Canon Jane Obeny, said the move was prompted by rising cases of mental distress among children, linked to excessive academic pressure.

“One thing which is very clear… of late we have had a statement coming from the head of psychiatry hospital, which was very clear that most of the people who are being affected mentally are the young people,” Ms Obeny told Monitor.

“And the reason is that as teachers, we are overloading those (young people) with academics yet their brains are still young. So as Lira City, we have agreed that with immediate effect, we don't expect lessons to take place during weekends,” she added.

The move comes amid broader concerns, with the Ministry of Health Uganda declaring mental health a “silent emergency” earlier this year.

Estimates indicate nearly one in three of Uganda’s learners (over 10 million) face mental health challenges, with about 22.9 percent of children affected.

Recent data further shows that 17.6 percent of school-going children are battling depression, while 64 percent exhibit behavioural problems, particularly among girls and upper primary learners.

Authorities say key drivers include intense academic pressure, violence, poverty, neglect and lack of sleep.

Between July 2024 and June 2025, more than 90,000 cases were reported in Kampala schools, marking a 12.2 percent increase.

As part of the reforms, reporting time for nursery schools has been revised from 6:00am to 8:00am, with dismissal set at midday.

“Even nursery children go to school for six days and we're like, what are these children going to do? We also agreed that nursery kids will go to school from eight and by midday they should be going home and be with their parents,” Ms Obeny said.

Extended lessons and homework have also been scrapped.

“For us today we have resolved that no homework should be taken home. There are no teachers at home. Let the teachers who are being paid to teach the children finish everything from school. As simple as that,” she said.

School heads have also been warned against examination malpractice, with authorities threatening to revoke licences of implicated institutions starting next year.

“You will all recall that the results of 2025… had a lot of challenges. Some results were cancelled, others even up to now they are still being investigated simply because there were areas which indicated that the children cheated examinations,” Ms Obeny said.

The Uganda National Examinations Board (Uneb) cancelled results for all candidates at St Gracious Secondary School and Burlobo Primary School over malpractice.

Officials said the meeting also focused on strengthening transparency and security during national examinations.

“Our biggest concern… is basically the fact that the problem is not even with the teachers. The morals in this country are going down and because we are part of this system we cannot jump away from it,” Ms Obeny said.

While the line ministry did not immediately comment on the development, school leaders who spoke to Monitor on Tuesday welcomed the directive.

“As managers of schools, we are ready to abide by it… and ensure that it’s our duty and role to keep the security of national exams,” said Isaac Otoa, head teacher of Adyel Boarding Primary School and Executive Secretary of the Lira City Examination Board.

Mr Otoa, who also chairs the primary head teachers’ association in Lira City West Division, said schools are ready to enforce the ban.

“We want our children to rest their brains after three months of intensive learning at school,” he said.

According to the Ministry of Education and Sports calendar, learners will break off for the first term holidays on May 1, 2026, and resume on May 25, while the second term ends on August 21 and the third term runs from September 14 to December 4.