By: Ismael Kasooha

LYANTONDE

The Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja is irked by the high school dropout rates estimated to be at 63% in Lyantonde District Local Government.

Only 37 percent of pupils who start Primary One in public schools in Lyantonde complete the Primary level accounting for a dropout rate of 63%.

Residents intimated to the Premier that the number of pupils especially girls dropping out of school to marry continues to increase in Lyantonde District despite availability of a by-law to check the problem.

“I have talked to residents in Lyantonde and they have told me that most pupils dropout of school before even completing the primary cycle. This is very unfortunate and unacceptable. The leaders must standout and address this problem.” Said Nabbanja.

In 2007, Lyantonde District passed a by-law to ensure all children go to school.

The Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja inspecting stalls during the Lyantonde Agricultural expo on Friday

The details of the by-law were such that all children must go to school and complete at least senior four. The by-law sought to imprison parents who fail to take their children school.

Under this by-law, all parents had to pay either some money to buy food at school or they had to take, Matooke, maize floor and milk to feed their children while at school.

The by-law also set a fine of sh100, 000 for all parents who defied the law or six months’ imprisonment.

Nabbanja also blamed the dropouts on high levels of poverty in the District, which means many parents cannot afford the instituted fees.

Nabbanja has directed authorities in Lyantonde District to arrest head teachers of government aided schools who send learners home for fees.

However , there are reports that parents especially in Kashagama Sub County, Lyantonde Town Council, Lyantonde rural and Mpumudde Sub County withdraw their girls from schools to force them into early marriages due to culture.
Nabbanja said that there are committee members that share with the teachers the money they collect from parents yet the country is losing tomorrow’s leaders by sending learners home for failing to pay school fees and other requirements.

She said the President instituted Universal Primary Education (UPE) and Universal Secondary Education (USE) to ensure all children can go to school whether poor or not.

“I had a poor background because I was raised from a poor family, although my story has changed, I’m aware that we have poor children who can overcome their circumstances and succeed like I did,” said Nabbanja.

She ordered the Resident District Commissioner (RDC), District Police Commander (DPC), and District Education Officer (DEO) to arrest any head teachers who send students home for failing to pay fees.

“Our investigations revealed that these dropouts are due to parents’ failure to pay school requirements. I am now ordering you, the RDC, DPC, and the DEO, to ensure that all government school teachers who chase children from school for failing to pay school requirements are arrested,” Nabbanja added.

However, Lyantonde District Chairperson Fred Muhangi said that the teachers are not to blame solely for the situation in the district.

Muhangi said that the poor conditions of government schools force parents to contribute additional funds to support teachers to get accommodation and provide food for their children.

“Teachers cannot be solely blamed for the high school dropout rate because some parents decide to pay some money to support their children for food and porridge while at school.” he noted.

“If the government wants this to stop, they should ensure that teachers have houses and increase the funds allocated to government schools, as the current funding is insufficient. “Muhangi said.

Last year, Lyantonde District was one of the worst performing districts in the country with 19.2 percent.

Nabbanja made the remarks on Friday while leading a campaign from her office in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries as well as other Ministries, Departments, Agencies (MDAs) and private agro-input dealers.  The nationwide campaign includes agricultural expos, service delivery monitoring, visiting model farmers and knowledge-sharing sessions.

The campaign has previously been held in the Districts of Kalungu, Bukomansimbi, Mpigi, Gomba, Sembabule, Mubende, Kiboga, Kyankwanzi, Mityana, Kasanda, Nakaseke, Luwero, Nakasongola, Kibaale, Kagadi and Kakumiro, Masaka, Rakai and Kyotera.

Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja told farmers at the agricultural expo in Lyantonde that the campaign was designed to implement the six policy guidelines issued by President Yoweri Museveni in 2022.

The policies include production, multiplication, distribution, and certification of seeds and stocking materials; disease control; agricultural mechanization and irrigation; farmer education and mobilization; partnerships with big land owners and Interventions in the fisheries sector.

At the expo venue, there were several agricultural inputs, equipment and various types of food items on the exhibition stalls, presenting an opportunity for the farmers to interact with various agricultural experts.

End