Education campaign begins in the north
Jun 02, 2007
UNICEF, in partnership with the Government and other development partners, has launched a campaign targeting over 1.2 million children from the Acholi sub-region, whose education has been disrupted by the Lord’s Resistance Army insurgency.
By Chris Ocowun
UNICEF, in partnership with the Government and other development partners, has launched a campaign targeting over 1.2 million children from the Acholi sub-region, whose education has been disrupted by the Lord’s Resistance Army insurgency.
The two-year drive is dubbed ‘go to school, back to school and stay in school.’
It targets children who dropped out of school, those baby-sitting and former child soldiers. At least 184 children and former child mothers have registered.
The programme was launched at Lagot-Cugu Primary School in Mucwini sub-county in Kitgum district on Thursday by the education minister, Geraldine Namirembe Bitamazire.
“Before the end of the year, the Government will enact a law making primary education compulsory,†she said.
She affirmed that the Government is committed to transforming society through education.
The minister also handed over scholastic materials to schools in Mucwini sub-county.
She thanked UNICEF and the World Food Programme for supporting the education of children in the war-affected areas.
Bitamazire promised to support the education of girls and urged parents to ensure that their children go to school.
The UNICEF chief, Keith McKenzie, said the campaign aims at dealing with the challenges to education in the north.
“We want to ensure that children go to school and complete primary education. All educational facilities need to be rehabilitated,†he said.
Mckenzie noted that more female teachers need to be trained in colleges to assist girls in school.
Alix Loriston, the WFP deputy country director, said they would continue supplying food rations in schools.
The Kitgum resident district commissioner, Nahaman Ojwe, warned parents against hiring out their children as baby-sitters. The campaign has also been implemented in Teso, Lango, and Karamoja sub-regions.
UNICEF, in partnership with the Government and other development partners, has launched a campaign targeting over 1.2 million children from the Acholi sub-region, whose education has been disrupted by the Lord’s Resistance Army insurgency.
The two-year drive is dubbed ‘go to school, back to school and stay in school.’
It targets children who dropped out of school, those baby-sitting and former child soldiers. At least 184 children and former child mothers have registered.
The programme was launched at Lagot-Cugu Primary School in Mucwini sub-county in Kitgum district on Thursday by the education minister, Geraldine Namirembe Bitamazire.
“Before the end of the year, the Government will enact a law making primary education compulsory,†she said.
She affirmed that the Government is committed to transforming society through education.
The minister also handed over scholastic materials to schools in Mucwini sub-county.
She thanked UNICEF and the World Food Programme for supporting the education of children in the war-affected areas.
Bitamazire promised to support the education of girls and urged parents to ensure that their children go to school.
The UNICEF chief, Keith McKenzie, said the campaign aims at dealing with the challenges to education in the north.
“We want to ensure that children go to school and complete primary education. All educational facilities need to be rehabilitated,†he said.
Mckenzie noted that more female teachers need to be trained in colleges to assist girls in school.
Alix Loriston, the WFP deputy country director, said they would continue supplying food rations in schools.
The Kitgum resident district commissioner, Nahaman Ojwe, warned parents against hiring out their children as baby-sitters. The campaign has also been implemented in Teso, Lango, and Karamoja sub-regions.