Gulu vocational pupils to miss certificates
Jan 21, 2009
OVER 600 vocational pupils in Gulu district may end up without academic certificates after spending four years in school, Members of Parliament were told on Tuesday.
By Dennis Ojwee
OVER 600 vocational pupils in Gulu district may end up without academic certificates after spending four years in school, Members of Parliament were told on Tuesday.
Laroo Boarding School acting head teacher Johnson Oboth told legislators on the gender, children and social development committee that lessons in the school did not follow the national curriculum.
Oboth also said the school did not examine the students according to the national format, which is eligible for certification.
Even after informing the education ministry of the dilemma, he said, no action was taken.
The MPs, headed by Oyam district Woman MP Beatrice Lagada, are on a consultative tour on children’s issues in Gulu, Pader and Oyam districts.
The students said the education and sports ministry did not have a clear policy on the school.
Francis Komakech, having spent three years studying tailoring, building and concrete practice, carpentry and joinery, said he had not got any practical skills.
Following the cloudy circumstances, the school enrolment has dropped drastically from 673 in 2006 to 273 in 2008, said the head teacher.
Some girls, who did not want to be named, told Amuru Woman MP Concy Aciro, that they were sexually harassed by some male teachers.
The school administrators, however, denied any knowledge of the harassment allegations, but promised to investigate.
The meetings were organised by the Save the Children in Uganda.
Moses Ik, the regional officer, said it was a follow-up to a similar exercise done by Parliament in 2006.
OVER 600 vocational pupils in Gulu district may end up without academic certificates after spending four years in school, Members of Parliament were told on Tuesday.
Laroo Boarding School acting head teacher Johnson Oboth told legislators on the gender, children and social development committee that lessons in the school did not follow the national curriculum.
Oboth also said the school did not examine the students according to the national format, which is eligible for certification.
Even after informing the education ministry of the dilemma, he said, no action was taken.
The MPs, headed by Oyam district Woman MP Beatrice Lagada, are on a consultative tour on children’s issues in Gulu, Pader and Oyam districts.
The students said the education and sports ministry did not have a clear policy on the school.
Francis Komakech, having spent three years studying tailoring, building and concrete practice, carpentry and joinery, said he had not got any practical skills.
Following the cloudy circumstances, the school enrolment has dropped drastically from 673 in 2006 to 273 in 2008, said the head teacher.
Some girls, who did not want to be named, told Amuru Woman MP Concy Aciro, that they were sexually harassed by some male teachers.
The school administrators, however, denied any knowledge of the harassment allegations, but promised to investigate.
The meetings were organised by the Save the Children in Uganda.
Moses Ik, the regional officer, said it was a follow-up to a similar exercise done by Parliament in 2006.