Education Minister wants child abusers arrested

By Abou Kisige    

The state minister for Higher Education John Chrysostom has asked the Police to arrest and prosecute child abusers so as to cut down on the escalating school dropout rate in the country.

“Acts of child abuse, including defilement, early marriages, child labour and failure for parents to take children to school and providing them with lunch have impended government programmes,” Muyingo said.

He said programmes like the Universal primary education and Universal Secondary Education which are aimed at improving literacy levels in the country have been derailed.

Muyingo made the remarks while commissioning a newly constructed Kidula primary school at Kidula Sub County in Bamunanika in Luweero district on Thursday.

Muyingo cautioned teachers against abdicating their responsibilities and instead sexually abuse children they are supposed to protect.
“Parents do entrust their children with teachers therefore you supposed to be extemporary,” Muyingo said.

According to the statistics from the ministry of Education, 1,598,636 pupils enrolled for primary one in government-aided schools in 2006 but a whopping 71% did not reach Primary Seven.

Muyingo who is the Bamunanika MP, promised to ensure that education and Health infrastructure in the area is among the best in the country. He said Lueero needs more schools because the quality of education is low.

The seven- block primary school with modern toilets was constructed by Building Tomorrow, a non-governmental organization which works for and with grass root communities to serve the interest of the underserved people.

Joseph Bagambaki, the country director said the organization, compliments government efforts to promote and enhance the quality of Universal education in hard to reach areas.

Bagambaki said the organization has constructed over ten fully-fledged primary schools in ten districts in the country.

“We have put up school infrastructure aimed towards achieving a safe and conducive learning environment for the underprivileged children,” Bagambaki said.

Bagambaki thanked the people of Kidula village in Bamunanika for the corporation they exhibited during the construction the seven class block, head teachers office, Library and a toilet among other facilities