Parents arrested over low pupil turnout
What you need to know:
- The schools’ authorities have decried parent’s failure to provide scholastic materials for their children, blaming it on negative attitude towards education.
Local authorities on Monday started a crackdown on errant parents and pupils in Kitgum District to curb low turnout of learners in Lukwor, Optte, Alero and Gwen Pa-mon primary schools following a resolution passed by Labongo Amida Sub-county executive committee.
Since the first term commenced this year, on February 5 there has been a low turnout in some schools, prompting district official to intervene.
The operation saw several children of school-going age and their parents detained briefly by the sub-country officials.
Last Friday, a total of 38 school-going children of Lukwor Primary School and 15 parents were detained and on Monday, 12 pupils and 12 parents of Gweng pa Mon Primary School were arrested.
According to the Labongo Amida Sub-county chairperson, Mr Wilfred Nyeko, the operation codenamed “Send all children to school” stems from a resolution passed by the sub-county to compel learners registered in the primary schools to report to school.
Mr Nyeko said during the operation, they were concerned to find that only four Primary Seven candidates had registered attendance at Lukwor Primary School in the second week of the first term.
Several learners were found still being kept at home engaged in domestic chores, grazing animals, fishing and babysitting without even being registered for school, he said.
“The learners and their parents were briefly held at the respective school premises and the parents were tasked to commit towards registering the learners and providing for all basic school necessities amid pleas for mercy. They pleaded that they did not have money for buying basic learning requirements and other school charges,” he said.
According to Mr Nyeko, the operation will continue in all schools of the sub-county.
He warned that parents who fail to heed the responsibility to send their children to school risk being arrested and subjected to pay a fine and community service.
The schools’ authorities have decried parent’s failure to provide scholastic materials for their children, blaming it on negative attitude towards education. Male parents were also accused of abandoning their roles and responsibilities of providing basic learning necessities to their children.
During the operation, the leaders found only one pupil in Primary Seven at Lakwor Primary School.
