By Okwir Haron
OYAM: The dropout rate among girl-child school learners in Oyam District has raised concerns for local officials.
According to Vice Chairman Christ Ongom, early pregnancy and neglectful parents are the main reasons for girls dropping out of school.
To address this issue, a dialogue was held with community leaders, parents, and government representatives to find solutions.
Ongom urged local leaders to engage parents before the start of the first term and stress the importance of educating girls, especially with support from Gender for Uganda in 23 primary schools within the district.
Ongom also mentioned research revealing that Karamoja Sub-region has a lower dropout rate compared to Lango Sub-region due to the lack of school feeding programs in Lango primary schools.
To combat this, Benson Ongom, the Inspector of Schools for Oyam, shared the department’s efforts to ensure children have access to education, stay in school, complete their studies, and continue to the next level.
Moses Otim, headteacher of Anyeke Primary School, discussed how they have implemented a program to welcome back dropouts, including pregnant girls, to continue their education.
“This has resulted in 86 students returning last year and 124 by the end of the year. In order to support students and keep them in school, Anyeke has introduced a farming program with the help of UNICEF and also offers free technical training in tailoring and shoemaking for those who may not continue beyond primary level” Otim explained.
Geoffrey Angulu, the LC1 Chairperson of Akatakata Village, expressed support for these initiatives and promised to mobilize parents to fulfill their responsibilities by paying school fees and supporting school feeding programs.
