Ssekandi Gives Awards

By James Odong THE Speaker of Parliament, Edward Ssekandi, on Thursday gave awards to the Kampala primary schools which composed and presented the best poems and songs for the just concluded 33rd Commonwealth Parliamentary Association conference.Shimoni Demonstration School, which emerged overall best, received sh400,000. Each of the three teachers who prepared the pupils received sh100,000.City Parents School which was the second, got sh250,000 and St. Kizito Primary School got sh100, 000.Ssekandi counselled the children against misinterpreting their rights as provided for in the Children Statute, saying much as they have rights, they also have the responsibility to respect their parents and guardians and to work hard.“Those who misinterpret children rights are ruining you because that was not the intention of providing for these rights in the law.“The idea was to protect you against excesses by parents and guardians,” Ssekandi said.He urged the students to be disciplined and to work hard so that they become Members of Parliament (MPs) after their studies. “The minimum qualification for MPs is ‘A level, but I see all of you here becoming graduates in 10 years so the issue of qualification should not be a problem,” he said.Ssekandi encouraged the children to visit Parliament. The headmaster of Shimoni, Wasswa Musali, thanked Parliament for the opportunity to participate in the competition.Over 50 pupils from three schools took part.Ends