Ugandan High Court orders closure of schools funded by billionaire businessmen Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg

On Friday the 4th of November 2016, a Ugandan high court ordered the closure of some low cost private schools funded by billionaire businessmen Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg.The judge ruled the 63 Bridge International Academies were not properly licensed and provided unhealthy and sub-standard learning conditions. 

The institutions expanded rapidly since they were launched in 2008, with the aim of providing cheap, standardized, technology-driven education in developing African and Asian countries. These schools are attended by 12,000 students and would have to close immediately following the court ruling on Friday, despite being it the middle of the school term. 

Bridge International disputed the ruling and they say that they intend to appeal the decision. In an emailed statement, Godwin Matsiko, a spokesman for Bridge International schools in Uganda, said that the decision jeopardized the education of thousands of students.

Uganda’s education sector is underdeveloped and suffers from high rates of teacher absenteeism and failure of students to complete their education.

Source: BBC