BY JOACKIM KULE MUHESI & ISAAC MUMBERE
As schools opened their doors for second term today morning, the turn- up of learners in Kasese district was reportedly low compared to that of the teachers.
Our News Desk carried out a survey on a number of schools within and outside Kasese Municipality and discovered that the teachers tried their level best to report on the very first day of the term but the turn up of pupils was low.
Mr. Dan Benon Masereka, the Head teacher at Kamaiba Primary School in the Central Division of Kasese Municipality told our reporter that out of the 1004 pupils at the institution, only 347reported on the first day while 14 out of the 25 teachers at the institution were present.
At Standard High School – Nyamwamba, Mr. Robert Balya, the Head teacher observed the need for the parents to prioritize their children’s education and especially those living with disabilities.
Mr. Emmy Mwesige Kayiri, the Kasese Municipal Education Officer, hailed the teachers for their good turn-up and urged the parents to embrace the idea of sending their children to schools on the first day of opening.
In Kyondo Sub-county, Bukonzo County East, the turn-up of the learners at 10 government grant-aided schools was promising.
The Sub-county Chairperson, Mr. Juvenal Muke rated today’s turn-up of learners in schools to 50%. He attributed such a good turn-up to the recent council resolution that called for massive home to home monitoring coupled with rounding up of the children who would be found at home during school days.
Mr. Amon Bwambale, the Head teacher at Buthale Primary School in Mahango sub-county reported that out of the 520 pupils that they closed with at the institution last term, only 194 turned up on the very first day.
He attributed the challenge to the parents’ reluctance to prepare their children for a new school term on time.
Ms. Erinah Muhindo, the Head at Lhuhiri primary school told our reporter that only 175 out of 675 pupils reported today.
The Bukonzo County West Inspector of Schools, Mr. Erisania Kule, told Messiah Radio that the turn of learners in the primary schools of Katholhu, Rusese, St. Komboni and Mpondwe Moslem was low.
According to him, out of 1,600 pupils at Mpondwe primary school, 507 reported.
At Mundongo Primary School, the turn –up was promising according to the Head teacher, Mr. Eriabu Bwambale Kakundese. He revealed to our reporter that 1002 out 1,500 reported on the first day of the term.
The Bukonzo County East Inspector of Schools, Ms. Harriet Masika, explained that the turn up of learners in schools more especially Kajwenge, Kinyabisiki, Bughema, and Kisinga was low.
According to her, late reporting makes the learners not to match with their counterparts as far as syllabus coverage is concerned.
The press understands that more 160 pupils aged between three and fifteen didn’t go to their respective schools since they are encamped at the RDC’s office in Kasese town following land disputes from their various sub-counties as claimed by their parents and relatives.
ENDS