- Title: Uganda orders closure of schools backed by Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg
- Date: 28th November 2016
- Summary: KAMPALA, UGANDA (NOVEMBER 28, 2016) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF STUDENTS OUTSIDE CLASSROOMS AT BRIDGE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
- Embargoed: 13th December 2016 15:05
- Keywords: Kampala Uganda education schools Bill Gates Mark Zuckerberg Bridge International Schools
- Location: KAMPALA, UGANDA
- City: KAMPALA, UGANDA
- Country: Uganda
- Topics: Education,Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA0015AD0A4N
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Ugandan authorities have ordered the closure of a chain of for-profit international schools backed by Microsoft founder Bill Gates and Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg over concerns about poor sanitation and teaching.
A Ugandan high court judge ruled last week that Bridge International Schools was not licensed properly, provided unsanitary spaces and relied on unqualified teachers - allegations that students, parents and representatives of the school have denied.
The US-owned chain of low-cost academies, which is also backed by the UK government, first opened in a Nairobi slum in 2009 before setting up in Uganda in 2015. It has since then been embroiled in a tussle with authorities with accusations of poor teaching and facilities standards.
The organisation runs more than 400 nursery and primary schools across Africa. It has continuously denied the allegations.
The low-cost education provider has 63 campuses across Uganda with 12,000 students, and is allowed to remain open until December 8 to allow students to sit for exams and finish third term after it obtained a court order.
Bridge has opened hundreds of schools as it continues to expand across Africa and Asia with a mission of educating 10,000,000 children across a dozen countries by 2025. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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