Museveni’s policies on UPE are very clear
Oct 27, 2005
SIR — A few days ago, I was in Rukungiri and noticed that some young girls and boys were not attending classes.
SIR — A few days ago, I was in Rukungiri and noticed that some young girls and boys were not attending classes. When I asked what the problem was, they told me that they have been sent away for lack of school fees. I had a chance of meeting some parents and one or two teachers who confirmed this. I told the parents that there was UPE and all children of school-going age are supposed to be at school. I was told that those were “my words†and that parents are supposed to contribute some building fund money and any child whose parent defaults is not allowed to attend class. If a child misses class for one or two weeks, how will he perform? One of the reasons why rural schools do not perform well is because the teachers are not committed.
Teachers should be encouraging children to attend classes other than sending them away because they haven't paid for this or that.
I have had an opportunity of listening to President Museveni’s policies on UPE. What he emphasises is packed lunch for children, books, pens and other scholastic materials but not the money that is being charged by some of the schools in Rukungiri. A few months ago, the education minister emphasised that children should not be sent from class. The Rukungiri District Management, the Ministry of Education and Rukungiri MPs should investigate this matter. otherwise there will be so many dropouts as some of the parents are too poor to even afford the so called building fund or whatever money that is being collected.
The schools that have recently sent away children and where I have evidence are Nyabihinga Primary School and Nyakibale Upper and Lower Primary schools.
The Ministry of Education should please wake up and investigate this matter or else some children in the villages will not benefit from UPE.
Just go deep in the villages and educate the parents, otherwise we are losing out.
R. K. Kaisiromwe
Kampala
Teachers should be encouraging children to attend classes other than sending them away because they haven't paid for this or that.
I have had an opportunity of listening to President Museveni’s policies on UPE. What he emphasises is packed lunch for children, books, pens and other scholastic materials but not the money that is being charged by some of the schools in Rukungiri. A few months ago, the education minister emphasised that children should not be sent from class. The Rukungiri District Management, the Ministry of Education and Rukungiri MPs should investigate this matter. otherwise there will be so many dropouts as some of the parents are too poor to even afford the so called building fund or whatever money that is being collected.
The schools that have recently sent away children and where I have evidence are Nyabihinga Primary School and Nyakibale Upper and Lower Primary schools.
The Ministry of Education should please wake up and investigate this matter or else some children in the villages will not benefit from UPE.
Just go deep in the villages and educate the parents, otherwise we are losing out.
R. K. Kaisiromwe
Kampala