Busoga elite unite to fight failing education

Kampala. Leaders from Busoga have unveiled Shs3.5b initiative to uplift education standards in the sub-region following years of decline in performance of schools from there in national examinations.
Retired diplomat, Ms Agnes Kalibala, said they are driving the education improvement through Busoga Education Initiative (BEI), and their priority is fixing flaws at 18 schools whose candidates have continuously performed poorly in Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE).
With Kyabazinga William Gabula Nadiope as patron, BEI founders hope to muster Shs100m for social mobilisation and policy advocacy, Shs300m for water and sanitation improvement, Shs145m for uplifting school performance, Shs200m for school feeding, and Shs150m for school awards.
Among the promoters of the initiative are the Speaker of Parliament, Ms Rebecca Kadaga, and the Principal of Makerere University Business School, Prof Wasswa Balunywa.
Ms Kalibala says the State minister for Primary Education, Ms Rosemary Seninde, inspired them to form BEI after she challenged them to act and reverse the declining education standards in the sub-region.
“After realising that for the last five years, Busoga Sub-region has been the worst performing in eastern Uganda, the minister encouraged the educated Basoga to find a solution,” she said.
The 2014 PLE results show that 1,425 candidates scored zero marks in various subjects countrywide. Busoga sub- region had the highest number of candidates with zero score (337).
Other goals of the drive include developing school infrastructure and vocational skills, mobilising for improvement of water and sanitation, providing scholastic materials, and mobilising parents and community to provide food for children.
BEI promoters plan to revive debating clubs, peer education, career guidance and identifying talent and schools to twin with models schools outside the sub-region within the first term of the 2019 academic year.
“We have been approaching different well-wishers and development partners working in Busoga Sub-region to help raise this money...we will be working together with government to achieve our goals,” Ms Kalibala said.
Former Lands Minister Daudi Migereko, who hails from Busoga, said the poor results the region posts in national examinations is shameful.
“It is our duty as people who have benefited and got good education from these schools to ensure that the young generation gets good education too,” he said, citing the need to nurture replacement of manpower.