BY JOACKIM KULE
In a bid to promote the academic standards in Bwesumbu Sub-county, Busongora County North in Kasese district, Kabira Foundation, a Nongovernmental Organization in Uganda has commissioned the construction works of six classrooms at Nyakanengo Primary School.
Nyakenengo Primary School was started in 1985 as an Anglican Church of Uganda founded institution and was later grant –aided by government in 1997.
Today, a delegation from Kabira Foundation led by Mr. Kamilo Otim organized a ground breaking ceremony at the institution and revealed that they would construct six classrooms at the school but in two phases.
According o him, the decision to construct some classrooms at the school was reached after landing on video circulating on various social media platforms indicating that the institution was operating from dilapidated structures thus forcing many learners to drop out of school.
In 2022, the organization sent a delegation to assess the situation at the school and ascertained that there were only four permanent classrooms while the rest were semi-permanent and in sorry state, a reason why they mobilized funds to improve the institution so that the learners can be able to stay in school and complete education.
He also revealed that they intend to construct some staff quarters at the institution and carry out capacity building sessions at some schools across the district.
Mr. Ezekiel Stone Maate, the head teacher at Nyakenengo Primary School acknowledged that it was rare for the pupils who join lower primary at the institution to complete primary seven at the same school.
He, however, attributed the challenge to the late enrolment of learners into the institution hence forcing them to drop out and get married at an early age.
Mr. Eliphaz Muhindi Bukombi, the Kasese District Chairperson noted that the challenge of school dropouts and early marriages was persistent in the entire constituency of Busongora North due to the parents’ negative mindset towards education.
Moses Kabinga, the Kasese District Inspector of Schools who represented the District Education Officer, expressed concern over the increased rate of school dropouts at the institution.
According to him, despite being a government grant –aided school, the institution only had 13 primary six candidates who were promoted to primary seven this year and yet the community has many young people who are not in school.
The Kasese Deputy RDC in-charge of Bukonzo County, Lt Maate Magwara who officiated at the ground breaking ceremony, warned the parents against initiating dowries on their underage children.
Lt. Magwara blamed the parents for allegedly being the lead promoters of incest, early marriages and school dropouts, a vice he said must be fought against in order to cause development in their area.
ENDS