Feature:
Jun 15, 2010
<b>Triplets lack school fees</b><br>FOR seven years, Immaculate Nanyombi had stayed happily with her lover, John Mukasa, a taxi conductor in Kyebando village, a suburb of Kampala.
By Gladys Kalibbala
Triplets lack school fees
FOR seven years, Immaculate Nanyombi had stayed happily with her lover, John Mukasa, a taxi conductor in Kyebando village, a suburb of Kampala.
But when she was finally blessed with triplets, the relationship turned sour. The father of her three baby girls abandoned her at Mulago Hospital and vanished.When a relative searched for him at their home, he realised Mukasa had disappeared with all his belongings to an unknown destination.
It was even difficult for Nannyombi to run to Mukasa’s relatives for help since he had never introduced her to his relatives. With no means to pay rent, much less care for the babies, life was very difficult for Nanyombi.
But her landlord was lenient and soon, Good Samaritans came in handy with sh200,000, which she used to begin a business. She got another boost when the area local leaders introduced her to a non governmental organisation which foots her food bills.
But she is facing a problem of school fees. She is appealing to Good Samaritans for help. “My children’s future lies in their education. I do not want them to suffer when they grow up,†Nanyombi says.
Her daughters have enrolled at a nursery school near her home but Nanyombi cannot afford sh50,000. for each of them. The Universal Primary Education (UPE) school that provides free education, is far from her home and she cannot afford the transport. Nanyombi is also worried because her children cannot be admitted to the UPE school since they are underage.
Aggrey Kibenge, the education ministry’s public relations officer says pre-primary education is a responsibility of private sectors. The ministry only provides guidance.
“We monitor them to see that they teach the young children within the limits of the required standards suitable to their young brains,†he says. Kibenge adds that parents have to keep their children until the age six years which is the appropriate age for entrance in Primary one at any UPE school.
But if she chooses to take her daughters to the UPE school, Nanyombi fears they might not study well. With a population of over 30,000, Kyebando only has one UPE school, St Paul Kyebando Primary School, which is overcrowded.
What teachers say
Florence Musoke, the head teacher of St Paul Kyebando, says kindergarten gives children a good foundation.
“With the policy of the automatic promotion, the children starting P1 for the first time will have problems coping. While the rest who have attended nursery school know how to read and write, first-comers find it difficult to catch up,†Musoke said.
She adds that many UPE schools are overcrowded, which makes it hard for teachers to handle.
Triplets lack school fees
FOR seven years, Immaculate Nanyombi had stayed happily with her lover, John Mukasa, a taxi conductor in Kyebando village, a suburb of Kampala.
But when she was finally blessed with triplets, the relationship turned sour. The father of her three baby girls abandoned her at Mulago Hospital and vanished.When a relative searched for him at their home, he realised Mukasa had disappeared with all his belongings to an unknown destination.
It was even difficult for Nannyombi to run to Mukasa’s relatives for help since he had never introduced her to his relatives. With no means to pay rent, much less care for the babies, life was very difficult for Nanyombi.
But her landlord was lenient and soon, Good Samaritans came in handy with sh200,000, which she used to begin a business. She got another boost when the area local leaders introduced her to a non governmental organisation which foots her food bills.
But she is facing a problem of school fees. She is appealing to Good Samaritans for help. “My children’s future lies in their education. I do not want them to suffer when they grow up,†Nanyombi says.
Her daughters have enrolled at a nursery school near her home but Nanyombi cannot afford sh50,000. for each of them. The Universal Primary Education (UPE) school that provides free education, is far from her home and she cannot afford the transport. Nanyombi is also worried because her children cannot be admitted to the UPE school since they are underage.
Aggrey Kibenge, the education ministry’s public relations officer says pre-primary education is a responsibility of private sectors. The ministry only provides guidance.
“We monitor them to see that they teach the young children within the limits of the required standards suitable to their young brains,†he says. Kibenge adds that parents have to keep their children until the age six years which is the appropriate age for entrance in Primary one at any UPE school.
But if she chooses to take her daughters to the UPE school, Nanyombi fears they might not study well. With a population of over 30,000, Kyebando only has one UPE school, St Paul Kyebando Primary School, which is overcrowded.
What teachers say
Florence Musoke, the head teacher of St Paul Kyebando, says kindergarten gives children a good foundation.
“With the policy of the automatic promotion, the children starting P1 for the first time will have problems coping. While the rest who have attended nursery school know how to read and write, first-comers find it difficult to catch up,†Musoke said.
She adds that many UPE schools are overcrowded, which makes it hard for teachers to handle.