Buyende scores low turn-up of learners as schools open for term two

Buyende, (UG):- As the second term of the academic year 2024 opened yesterday, Monday, May 27, 2024, most of the schools in Budiope East Constituency, Buyende District registered very few students on the first day.

A case study by DailyExpress indicated that learners of different primary schools did not turn up for studies on the first day, with only twenty per cent (20%) of the pupils reported.

At Irundu Cop Primary School which has an enrolment of 450 pupils only 178 reported on the first day, Kinaitakali 233 pupils reported out of 1276, at Namulikya Primary School 191 out of 1928 pupils while at Gwase Primary School, of the 960 pupils registered by the end of first term, only 87 reported.

In other schools like Nakabira Primary School, out of 968 only 92 attended the first day, Inuula Primary School only 6 pupils reported out of 276, Igwaya Primary School which has an enrolment of 1200 but only 142 reported and Irundu Catholic Primary School out of 1102, only 101 reported 

Headteachers of these schools who talked to DailyExpress attributed this to parents who believe that in the first week of the term there is no teaching

Kipanda Moses, the Headteacher Kinaitakali PS said that all teachers reported on the first day and were ready to teach but the turn-up was low, and appealed to the parents to send the children back to school 

“It is true the turn-up was low”; began Kipanda. “But we appeal to our parents to send back children because our teachers are ready”; he said. 

Mr Badebye Charles, the headteacher at Igwaya PS attributed the low turn-up of pupils to parents and guardians who believe that in the first week of term, there are no studies. He also said that his staff members almost 90% reported and were ready for work.

“Our staff members have come back and ready for work however the number of pupils is small and this is maybe due to parents and guardians who threaten their children to report on the first day”; Badebye said.

Our efforts to reach the district education officer of Buyende district Mr Bwiire to comment on this were fitful because his phone was off.

It should be noted that in recent years, Buyende District has consistently ranked among the underperforming districts in national Primary Leaving Examinations.