Franklin Ezakuru Draku
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Moyo School Drop-out Rates on the Rise

21 Sep 2009, 12:51 3363 Views Moyo Town, Uganda News Report
Key stakeholders in the education sector in Moyo are alarmed by the increasing school dropout rates in the district. Michael Mali, the Moyo District education Officer, told a meeting of head teachers, district councilors and parents that the dropout rate is one of the highest in the country. He said research conducted by his department found the quality of teaching caused very poor student performance and led to many children abandoning school. Mali said that unless urgent action is taken, Moyo district will produce a crop of students that are unprepared for higher education or the challenges of the world. //Cue in: iToday the children #i Cue out: i# we lose a lot.i// The education department research report recommends drastic measures to be taken to improve the school standard in Moyo. It calls for the implementation of the 2008 Moyo Education Ordnance that makes it a crime for parents not to send their children to school. It also imposes stiff fines on teachers who habitually absent themselves from duty. John Abingwa, the Moyo Resident District Commissioner, has offered his office to monitor the implementation of the 2008 Education Ordnance. Fabiua Ambama, chairperson of the Moyo branch of the Uganda National Teacher's Union, admits that much needs to be done to ensure that teachers provide quality education to their students. He however says punitive measures against errant teachers will not stand the test of time if nothing is done to improve teachers' welfare. Ambama claims that teachers in Moyo are some of the most poorly paid in Uganda. He says many of them do not have staff housing and allowances like their colleagues around the country. //Cue in: iMotivation of teachers #i Cue out: i# low motivation.i//

 

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Franklin Ezakuru Draku