Don’t marry off underage girls - Minister
MARRYING off under-age girls propels them into abject poverty, the education minister, Namirembe Bitamazire, has said.<br>
By Ronald Kalyango
MARRYING off under-age girls propels them into abject poverty, the education minister, Namirembe Bitamazire, has said.
“I got married at 37 years and produced seven children, because I had planned for them. They have all completed school and are now in the working class,†said Bitamazire.
She was launching the infrastructure component of the Universal Post-Primary Education and Training (UPPET) programme for Karamoja region at Moroto High School recently. The beneficiary schools include Kotido SS, Kotido PTC, Moroto PTC, Moroto High School, Kangole Girls SS, Jubilee 2000 SS Karenga, Kaabong SS, Abim SSS, Morulem, Girls SSS, Lotuke Seed SS, Arengesiep SSS, Namalu SS and Pokot SS.
Under the project, nine administration blocks, 30 classrooms, 27 laboratories, three libraries, 17 dormitory blocks and 36 staff houses with latrines will be constructed. Others are a computer laboratory, 94 latrines, kitchen, school fences and water supply systems.
“Why do you marry off your children at 11 years? My father was illiterate and very poor, but he saved the little he earned to make sure that I acquired education,†Bitamazire said.
She told district authorities to educate parents about the benefits of education. “The Government and development partners are working hard to ensure that every child accesses education at all levels. The task now is for the local leaders, to mobilise parents to send their children to different school,†she said.
MARRYING off under-age girls propels them into abject poverty, the education minister, Namirembe Bitamazire, has said.
“I got married at 37 years and produced seven children, because I had planned for them. They have all completed school and are now in the working class,†said Bitamazire.
She was launching the infrastructure component of the Universal Post-Primary Education and Training (UPPET) programme for Karamoja region at Moroto High School recently. The beneficiary schools include Kotido SS, Kotido PTC, Moroto PTC, Moroto High School, Kangole Girls SS, Jubilee 2000 SS Karenga, Kaabong SS, Abim SSS, Morulem, Girls SSS, Lotuke Seed SS, Arengesiep SSS, Namalu SS and Pokot SS.
Under the project, nine administration blocks, 30 classrooms, 27 laboratories, three libraries, 17 dormitory blocks and 36 staff houses with latrines will be constructed. Others are a computer laboratory, 94 latrines, kitchen, school fences and water supply systems.
“Why do you marry off your children at 11 years? My father was illiterate and very poor, but he saved the little he earned to make sure that I acquired education,†Bitamazire said.
She told district authorities to educate parents about the benefits of education. “The Government and development partners are working hard to ensure that every child accesses education at all levels. The task now is for the local leaders, to mobilise parents to send their children to different school,†she said.