Iganga, (UG):- Iganga District Inspector of Schools, Ms Kwagala Sarah has decried the increasing number of children, especially the boys who are dropping out of school. She has therefore tasked parents and other stakeholders to work closely in supporting the boy-children.
Kwagala says available research at the district level indicates that a number of boy children continue to deteriorate in schools and end up not doing exams with the failure rate of boys continuing to be high compared to girls.
The inspector who was on Wednesday speaking at the commissioning of 59 primary seven candidates of Canon Ibula Primary School at CMS in Bulamagi sub-county attributed the alarming rate to less emphasis towards the boy children.
She says a number of government interventions have been targeting the girl child, as well as a number of economic factors where she cited that some boys are the breadwinners of their homes and this forces them to drop out of school.
“We have seen that absenteeism, high failure rate and failure to complete exams takes a big number of boy children and this is as a result of advocating for the girl-child without clear intervention for the boys and some economic factors where they involve in sugarcane cutting to earn a living for their families,” Ms Kwagala said.
She added that there is a need for the boy child to be supported and that the education department is sensitizing parents and other stakeholders in what she termed as mass sensitization to ensure that the boy child can also be prepared well to suit the standard of ladies for successful families in future.
During the ceremony presided over by the Bishop of Central Busoga diocese Rt. Rev. Patrick Wakula, the cleric emphasized the need for parents to balance interventions for both girls and boys, adding that many boy children are left out in child labour. He tasked parents to urge their children to go to school other than engage in child labour.
“Many girls are being born but still the boys are dropping out of schools to work in sugarcane plantations. This is also a menace and we ask all parents to nurture all children because they all matter if we are to mould good future parents,” Rev. Wakula remarked.
The School Headteacher, Mr. Nabwiso Godfrey in his remarks emphasized that the candidates have been prepared well ahead of their primary leaving examinations and asked them to be devoted in the remaining days without relaxation.
Mr Nabwiso also asked parents to grant their children time to concentrate ahead of their exams. According to him, parents should not entrust their children with their relatives saying some relatives have turned crazy and may spoil their children, adding that it is better for them to remain with their children.
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