Kibaale district has highest school dropout rates

By Andrew Musinguzi in Kibaale

A recent report on child protection in Kibaale district has revealed that Kiryanga Sub County in Buyaga East Constituency Kibaale District is leading in school dropout rate according to the survey was conducted by World Vision in five sub counties in March 2015.

Presenting the survey report to district leaders and other stakeholders at Starlight Hotel, Agatha Kisakye the Project lead consultant  World Vision said that Most of schools in Kiryanga sub-county Kibaale District have been left empty as pupils more especially girls are dropping out over various reasons ranging from poverty, forced marriage, petty jobs and teenage pregnancies.

''A survey I conducted in Kiryanga sub-county alone, I found out that  Kiryanga schools are hard hit by jigger infestation which has also been blamed for the escalating school dropout rate.'' said Kisakye. 

The survey indicates that in Kiryanga sub-county alone a total of  93 pupils from P.5-P.7 dropped out before completing primary cycle between Term two 2014- March 2015 .

Kisakye revealed that out of 93 Pupils who dropped out in five schools surveyed 50 were Girls from primary six and seven, while in Kasambya sub-county a total of 54 pupils dropped out of school between Jan 2014- March 2015, out of those who dropped out 32 were Girls from primary five to primary seven out of the eight schools surveyed. 

It was discovered that Girls aged between 14-16 were the most affected where some are attracted by petty jobs in towns working as house Girls while others were impregnated before completing primary seven. Boys who were affected were found to have been attracted by also petty jobs like fishing, business activities while others had married.

Kisakye adds that the survey has also found out that Kasambya Sub County in Kibaale District is leading in incest cases where many cases of parents defiling their children have been recorded other causes have been identified as  lacks of basic needs, child neglect, and poverty among several other causes of school dropout.

''It is absurd to find out that people supposed to take care of their siblings are the real ones abusing them through incest and defilement. Some children interviewed revealed that their parents are perpetual drunkards while others say have been molested in various ways such as child labor and corporal punishment'',  said Kisakye.

Kisakye reveals that during the survey, children cried for intervention and strengthening of the laws that can protect them. World Vision recommends leaders and other stakeholders to jointly create awareness.

Kisakye said the survey was conducted in five sub-counties of Kasambya, Kiryanga, mabale, Nkooko and Kyebando where causes of early marriages, petty jobs, child labour, incest and poverty were more pronounced.

Reacting to the report, Kibaale Local leaders attributed the soaring rate of school dropouts to the availability of petty jobs citing bars where young girls are leaving school to earn a living.

Kiiza Joseph the Bunyoro Kingdom First deputy prime Minister and Minister in charge lands attributed the current alarming cases of violation of child rights, school dropout and other evil acts to the moral decadence which is as a result of people failing to observe cultural ties.

'' In Bunyoro sub-region cases of incest, defilement, teenage pregnancies, child labour and domestic violence are the major causes of school dropout especially among Girls'', said Kiiza.