Northern kids are real stars!

Jan 17, 2006

SIR — The New vision of January 13 published the list of the best 10 students from every district in Uganda who excelled in the Primary Leaving Examinations. It was impressive that pupils from northern Uganda which has been a war zone for 20 years managed to compete with those who live in utmost

SIR — The New vision of January 13 published the list of the best 10 students from every district in Uganda who excelled in the Primary Leaving Examinations. It was impressive that pupils from northern Uganda which has been a war zone for 20 years managed to compete with those who live in utmost peace elsewhere.

These children who were born, nurtured and educated under the most severe living conditions of deprivation and some in camps, managed to score first grades against all odds. I truly congratulate them all!

First, I am humbled that these children have been subjected to national examination, notwithstanding their uniquely peculiar life and study conditions in camps and restricted areas of war, in relation to children from other parts of Uganda
who have the luxury of attending private classes, full-time school and having stable family backgrounds.

Secondly, I am impressed that these children lack all basic necessities of life such as adequate light for studies, text books, peaceful study environment and proper feeding.

Thirdly, these are night commuter generation candidates who have to trek about 30kms everyday of their life running away from abduction and rebel atrocities and attending school at the same time, while pupils from other parts of the country are driven to schools and have all it takes to study.

In the final analysis, one would rather choose to admit the performers who defied all odds to perform miracles in Amuru, Lacekocot, Rackoko, Olwornguu and Madi Opei.

These are genuinely brilliant children who may not after all, make it to top secondary schools in Wakiso, Mukono and Kampala such as Gayaza, Namagunga, Namilyango, St. Mary’s College, Kisubi, Kibuli, Budo, St. Kalemba or Kawempe Muslim!

I strongly believe that there should be some form of affirmative action for these miracle performers from northern Uganda so that they can at least access some quality secondary education since they have proven beyond doubt that they can stand life’s harsh tests.

These so-called best performing schools should, on their own accord, avail slots of admission for these students. Competing with other children from peaceful areas of Uganda to them would be grossly unfair. Life is full of hurdles, but some man- made hurdles can be eliminated!

Morris Komakech
Toronto, Canada

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