Minister Seninde urges parents to feed their children

Rosemary Seninde (wearing gomesi) with Vision Group's Frank Kabushenga (fourth right), Hilda Twesigire, the deputy headteacher of St. Joseph's Nsambya Girls (third left) and students after a youth seminar on Saturday. Photo by Ramadhan Abbey

The state minister for primary education, Rosemary Seninde has asked parents to pack food for their children if the challenges in the Universal Primary Education (UPE) are to be reduced. 

The minister castigated some parents for abandoning their responsibilities of feeding their children and providing them with scholastic materials.

"One of the biggest challenges facing the Government with UPE is that some parents do not want to be involved in the education of their children. UPE is giving free education to the children, but parents have failed to feed them and that is the responsibility of parents," she stated.

Seninde was speaking on behalf of the education minister and First Lady, Janet Kataha Museveni, at the youth seminar at St. Joseph's Nsambya Girls Senior Secondary School on Saturday.

The seminar dubbed "Winner Within" attracted students from various schools such as Kisubi High School, Rubaga mixed High School and Pride College School. The schools, which showcased skills in entertainment and public speaking also got advice from inspirational speakers.

It was organised by Healing Point International, a non-governmental organisation focusing on providing support to youth.

"Implementation of quality education is a complex process and, therefore, needs multiple partners. The country has achieved increased enrollments of Ordinary and Advanced levels, building teachers' houses among other things," she noted.

Seninde who is also an old girl of the school expressed her concern about the continuous negative effects impacted to youth by social media, saying there is need for parents to counsel their children on how to use the platforms in positive way.

Victoria Aine, the organisation's director highlighted some of the activities undertaken by the organisation, which include girl-child empowerment, connecting youth to mentors and outreaches in communities. 

"The organisation is youth-focused and we empower the youth to overcome cycle-social challenges affecting them," she said.