Letshego boosts worst performing PLE schools

Most schools in rural areas struggle to compete with the education standards of their counterparts in urban centres especially Kampala.
Absenteeism of both teachers and pupils from class has been a major cause of poor performance in primary schools from rural areas but the poor reading culture and the lack of reading materials has only made matters worse.
It is against this background that Letshego, a leading short - medium -term financier, donated 5,200 textbooks to 21 schools across the country.
The firm provides loans to government employees and approved employers.
“We have taken on this initiative to give donations so that we can make people’s lives better,” Letshego, Chief Executive Officer Geoffrey Kitakule said.
“We are giving these schools books to help young children achieve their dreams by improving their education,” he said yesterday in Kampala.
This is the second time the company is giving out books.
“Over 5,000 were given out last year and from the feedback we had, we believe this is a positive thing to do. Five of 20 the schools we gave books last year recorded first grades for the first time,” he added.
State Minister for Public Affairs Seezi Mbaguta encouraged the school heads to instill a reading culture among their teachers and children and to also strive to curb absence.
“The missing link has always been the book- both text and exercise. By giving books you are reducing the burden parents have to carry.
To the schools, don’t forget that the criteria used to choose you for this donation was ‘poorest performing schools in Primary Leaving Education. I challenge you to improve and change through this initiative,” the minister said.
At the same function, Daily Monitor circulations manager Justus Katungi promised each of the schools copies of Newspapers in Education and Excel in PLE pull outs to help improve the pupils’ grades.

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