Amuru, Uganda: The Resident District Commissioner of Amuru, Mr Geoffrey Osborn Oceng, has raised alarm over an alarming pupil absenteeism crisis after revealing that more than 97 per cent of learners failed to report to school during a spot inspection this week.
Addressing journalists at his office on Wednesday, Mr Oceng said he visited over 20 government primary schools across the district and found classrooms nearly empty.
“What I witnessed is worrying. In most of the schools I inspected, over 97 per cent of the pupils had not reported. Some schools had only a handful of learners present,” Mr Oceng said.
He described the situation as a major setback to the district’s education progress, warning that sustained absenteeism risks reversing recent gains recorded in national examinations.
Mr Oceng urged parents and guardians to take responsibility and ensure children report to school on time, especially under the government’s Universal Primary Education programme.
“Education is the future of Uganda. When children are not in school, we are compromising their future and that of the country,” he said. “Government has done its part. Parents must now play their role.”
The RDC cautioned that prolonged absenteeism exposes children to early marriages, child labour and other forms of exploitation.
Amuru District Education Officer, Mr Sylvestor Opira, confirmed the low turnout, attributing it to parental negligence and socio-economic challenges.
“It is true that attendance in a number of schools is still very low,” Mr Opira said. “Some parents delay sending children back due to lack of scholastic materials, while others keep them home to assist with domestic work.”
He noted that delayed reporting disrupts syllabus coverage, forcing teachers to repeat lessons and slowing overall academic progress.
“When learners report late, it affects performance because teachers must adjust their schemes of work,” he said.
The district education department has since begun community sensitisation campaigns in partnership with head teachers and local leaders to boost attendance.
The attendance crisis comes weeks after the release of the 2025 Primary Leaving Examination results, in which Amuru registered 90 First Grades — a performance leaders had described as a sign of steady academic recovery.
Kilak South MP Gilbert Olanya recently urged parents to ensure children report on the first day of term to maintain academic momentum.
“When learners delay reporting, it affects their academic progress. Parents must ensure children are in school from the first day,” Mr Olanya said.
RDC Oceng said his office will continue conducting unannounced school inspections and working closely with the District Education Department to reverse the trend. “We cannot afford to lose an entire generation to absenteeism. Every child must be in school,” he said.
District leaders now face the urgent task of converting strong PLE results into sustained classroom performance, a goal that hinges largely on parental commitment and consistent learner attendance.
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