In short
More girls are reportedly dropping out of school as a result of early pregnancies and marriage while the boys drop out to engage in agriculture. Records indicate that teenage pregnancies in the district stand at 30 percent, higher than the national rate of 25 percent.
Kyenjojo district has introduced a toll-free line to fight rampant school dropouts, especially among the girl child.
According to records from the district education department, the dropout rate stands at 55 percent especially in the sub-counties of Bufunjo, Butunduzi, Nyakwanzi and Butunduzi Town Council.
More girls are reportedly dropping out of school as a result of early pregnancies and marriage while the boys drop out to engage in agriculture. Records indicate that teenage pregnancies in the district stand at 30 percent, higher than the national rate of 25 percent.
But now, toll-free lines are available to enable whistle-blowers to inform the Ministry of Gender about any child who could not be attending school in their various communities. The number 0800-100-116 will enable authorities to trace the children and re-enroll them back into school.
Kyenjojo District Education Officer Gertrude Tibakanya says that the introduction of the toll-free line follows failure by the district authorities to enforce bylaws passed by the district council to penalize parents who do not take their children to school.
// Cue in: "what we are trying...
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Tibakanya explains that when traced, the children are counseled and then taken back to school and the parents sensitized. She adds that the department will also introduce community Baraza's, where education authorities and the police will talk to the community and create awareness on the dangers of girls dropping out of school.
//Cue in: "the second strategy...
Cue out: "...move with her. //
Simon Agaba, the LCIII Chairperson of Bufunjo Sub County welcomes the toll-free lines. He, however, says there is still need for special intervention to attract all school going children back to the schools. He explains that in some schools in the area, the classrooms are dilapidated and condemned, forcing the children to attend classes under trees and lessons are often interrupted by the rain.
In 2015, a report released by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on school dropouts in Uganda,100 percent of pupils enrolled in Primary one in Uganda only 25 percent manage to complete primary seven and school dropout is higher in primary than secondary schools.
According to records from the district education department, the dropout rate stands at 55 percent especially in the sub-counties of Bufunjo, Butunduzi, Nyakwanzi and Butunduzi Town Council.
More girls are reportedly dropping out of school as a result of early pregnancies and marriage while the boys drop out to engage in agriculture. Records indicate that teenage pregnancies in the district stand at 30 percent, higher than the national rate of 25 percent.
But now, toll-free lines are available to enable whistle-blowers to inform the Ministry of Gender about any child who could not be attending school in their various communities. The number 0800-100-116 will enable authorities to trace the children and re-enroll them back into school.
Kyenjojo District Education Officer Gertrude Tibakanya says that the introduction of the toll-free line follows failure by the district authorities to enforce bylaws passed by the district council to penalize parents who do not take their children to school.
// Cue in: "what we are trying...
Cue out: "...follow it up. //
Tibakanya explains that when traced, the children are counseled and then taken back to school and the parents sensitized. She adds that the department will also introduce community Baraza's, where education authorities and the police will talk to the community and create awareness on the dangers of girls dropping out of school.
//Cue in: "the second strategy...
Cue out: "...move with her. //
Simon Agaba, the LCIII Chairperson of Bufunjo Sub County welcomes the toll-free lines. He, however, says there is still need for special intervention to attract all school going children back to the schools. He explains that in some schools in the area, the classrooms are dilapidated and condemned, forcing the children to attend classes under trees and lessons are often interrupted by the rain.
In 2015, a report released by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on school dropouts in Uganda,100 percent of pupils enrolled in Primary one in Uganda only 25 percent manage to complete primary seven and school dropout is higher in primary than secondary schools.
