Kabale School director clarifies on asking pupils to bring hen as part of requirements

Kabale, (UG):- With the usual mad rush of getting children back to school after a long two-month holiday, parents of a school in Kabale Municipality were left frustrated and bewildered by the school’s exaggerated and nonconsensual unusual requirements which include asking each pupil to bring a hen each, for newcomers.

The Director of Child Nursery and Primary Care School, in Kabale, is making rounds on social media platforms for championing a hen-worthy 20,000 Uganda shillings on the school circular as a mandatory requirement for new entrants.

And this is by no surprise, in recent times, schools have gone to the extent of asking students to show up with a bag of cement, spades, hoes, and barbed wire which leaves many parents puzzled about the usage of such items by their children at school.

But asking for a hen as a school requirement looks very unfamiliar hence raising concerns from the parents who are struggling to get the basic /usual school needs to their children.

This incident which has now gained significant attention on social media has left commentators expressing their concerns and disbelief, which prompted local television channels (NTVUganda)  to make visits to the school in abide to understand the significance of a hen as a school requirement and its impact on the pupil’s performance at school.

Speaking to NTV Uganda, the school director, Mr Innocent Mbine, clarified that in 2019, parents resolved to set up a poultry project that would later help the school management to improve and alternate meals to their scholars.

According to Mr Mbine, by availing eggs and chicken as an alternative diet. 

The Director added that what initially started as a pilot scheme is picking shape and is focused on making it on a large scale for sustainability, a balanced diet and teachers’ welfare.

He advised parents to calm down and accept it since it’s a fully approved school requirement. He further highlighted the benefits of a balanced diet with eggs as a supplement to pupils.

One Annet Ainembazi, an old girl at the school recapitulates with reminisces the beauty of adhering to this school’s requirement by describing the move as a source of a balanced diet to pupils.

The chairman of the parent’s teachers association, Mr Anatoli Kabeireho spoke in support of the idea and called upon other schools to emulate and adopt including eggs, and chicken to pupils’ menus.

It should be noted that the government of Uganda has on several occasions warned school proprietors of exorbitant charges and unrealistic school requirements.

It now remains to be seen whether the government shall respond on this particular one which has gained exposure of the silent requirements amongst others that schools are requesting from the parents amidst the hustles to cope with the exorbitant school dues.