Northern Uganda PLE star fails to join secondary school
Stranded. Deogloria Virtue Ejang scored aggregate 4 in last year’s PLE.
What you need to know:
- Because of prolonged dry spell in some parts of Uganda, including the north, many families that derive their livelihoods from agriculture have become so desperate.
A girl who emerged best in the 2018 Primary Leaving Examinations in northern Uganda has failed to join secondary school over lack of tuition.
Deogloria Virtue Ejang scored aggregate 4 in the exams but her parents, who live in Otuke District, say they are too poor to support her education.
Even at primary level, the 14-year-old was being sponsored by her former school, St Kizito Nursery and Primary School in Lira Municipality, her father Bosco Ogwang says. St Kizito decided to offer the scholarship after Ejang demonstrated high level of discipline and hard work.
“I am a teacher by profession and I teach in a community school in Otuke. I do not earn any salary but I get Shs100,000 per month during school days when parents have contributed money. But I earn nothing during holidays,” says Mr Ogwang.
Desperate call
“I have moved around trying to borrow money so that my daughter can join secondary school but nobody has given me any hope and the girl is right now at home crying,” he adds.
Because of prolonged dry spell in some parts of Uganda, including the north, many families that derive their livelihoods from agriculture have become so desperate. In fact, majority peasant farmers are finding it hard to provide clothing, food and education to their children.
Nevertheless, according to Uganda Poverty Assessment 2016, the proportion of the Ugandan population living below the national poverty line declined from 31.1 per cent in 2006 to 19.7 per cent in 2013.
