Youth table key areas for reform as Youth day nears

As the International Youth Day nears, Ugandan youth have tabled four key areas that require government attention and immediate action.

Led by students of Kyambogo College School, the youth want the government to invest in the education sector, address sexual violence in schools, wide performance disparity between private and public schools and the high levels of unemployment among the youth.

"The current state of affairs (in the education sector) is attributed to insufficient funding by the Central Government which is not commensurate with the growing population and increased enrollment in both primary and secondary schools. This has contributed to high school dropout rates and poor performance especially in rural schools," said Philip Lumonya Kirabo, a senior five student.
 
Kirabo was speaking at the launch of the National Youth Day, which will be commemorated on August 12 in Jinja district. The press conference was organised by the Uganda Youth network in partnership with the school and other youth-based not for profit organisations.
 
The day will be celebrated under the theme ‘Transforming education for responsible citizenship a pre-requisite for employment creation'.

The youths want the government to fulfill its commitment to Sustainable development Goal 4 by ensuring that all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development, care, and preprimary education and ensuring all girls and boys complete free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education.

They also want parliament to play a key role in advocating for increased financing to the education sector and provide oversight for efficient delivery on the education sector reforms.

According to Peniel Rwendeire, the programs officer Uganda Youth Network, as part of the celebrations, they are going to have an SDG caravan moving to communities around Kampala, creating awareness on all the SDGs.

They will also hold a moot Parliament for the youths and marathon.