Fishing, mining lure Kasese pupils out of school

Jul 05, 2016

More than half of the pupils enrolled at Kinyateke Primary School are known to be out of school.

More than half of the pupils enrolled in primary school in Katwe-Kabatooro town council and Lake Katwe sub-county in Kasese district have abandoned school to engage in fishing and salt mining activities, according to district officials.

At Katwe Primary School, out of the over 1000 children enrolled at the school, only 320 have reported for the second term of this academic year.

"All schools in this area are grappling with low turnout of children because most of them have given up studying and are now in salt mining because they earn money while others go fishing," said Benjamin Babulya, school's head teacher.

Many people employ children of school-going age in the salt pans because they provide cheap labor and they are readily available.

Children are being used to load and upload salt in the mines, and during the salt-mining season, majority of the pupils abandon school, added Babulya.

It is understood that children are also involved in fishing which they deem more profitable than attending classes.

More than half of the pupils enrolled at Kinyateke Primary School are known to be out of school to engage in fishing activities.

Masereka Festo, a teacher at the school, said that out of the 506 pupils who were enrolled this term, only 176 attend classes.

The trend has raised concern within the district education department and political leadership in the district.

According to Babulya, primary five, six and seven classes are the most affected at his school.

At the beginning of the term, the school registered 11 pupils in primary six and 23 pupils in primary five but they have all since abandoned school.

"Currently we don't have any single pupils in the top three classes of primary five, six and seven."

Some children are reportedly used to transport fish to different market centres while girls are being married off, something that has inspired calls for community sensitization on the need for education.

"The girls have been married off because parents don't value education. After the children have shown signs of puberty, they think that they are grown enough to be married off," said Babulya.

It is understood school authorities have convened several meetings with parents to discuss the matter but "many" do not show up.

Edson Biryande, the district inspector of schools, confirmed the reports and said that his office is investigating the matter.

He said they are considering withdrawing some teachers from the school since they are now idle.

"We are intensifying our routine inspections in the affected places were the problem is very high with law enforcers to see that we arrest all those pupils who have abandoned schools and lure them back to school as well as sensitize the parents about the value of education," said the district official.

The education department is planning to launch a sensitization campaign along the shores of Lake Edward and Lake George on the advantages of education and danger of children dropping out of school.

The sensitization will be done during the forthcoming holidays when the parents and children are home.

 

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