Oyam, Uganda – A recent three-year study has uncovered a disconcerting trend in Oyam Primary Schools, where over 9000 pupils drop out annually. The district Education department conducted the study in 65 out of the 109 government-aided primary schools, revealing that a total of 28,109 pupils dropped out between 2020 and 2023, with 9,520 in 2020, 9,086 in 2022, and 9,503 in 2023.
The dropout issue spans across all primary grades, from Primary 1 to Primary 7. For instance, in 2023 alone, 1,641 pupils dropped out in Primary 1, while 1,029 pupils dropped out in Primary 7 across the surveyed schools.
David Adea, the Oyam District Senior Education Officer, expressed deep concern over the high dropout rate and attributed it to challenges such as teenage pregnancy and child labor. Benson Ongom, the District Inspector of schools, acknowledged a higher dropout rate among girls and urged parents to ensure their daughters attend and stay in school.
Scovia Akanyo, a parent from Akuce Primary School, blamed neglectful parenting for the issue, highlighting the lack of support for children to remain in school, forcing them to turn to criminal activities like theft and substance abuse.
In response to the crisis, Geneva Global, a charitable consulting company, has initiated the Speed School accelerated education program. This program offers primary-aged out-of-school children an opportunity to receive formal education, covering the first three years of primary education in just ten months.
Operating in Oyam North, specifically in the sub-counties of Abok, Aleka, Otwal, and Ngai, the program identifies 10 primary schools based on dropout rates and the availability of suitable structures for conducting lessons.
The Oyam district inspector of schools noted positive impacts within just three weeks of the program’s implementation, emphasizing the transformation in learners’ communication, interaction, and classroom behavior. He called on education stakeholders to collaborate in ensuring the program’s continuity even after the project concludes.
Maxwell Okao, the head teacher of Akucawitim Primary School, one of the program’s implementation sites, cautioned parents against withdrawing their children, emphasizing that keeping them in school is vital for reducing crime in the community.
Under the program, learners’ mothers are organized into Self-Help Groups and provided with financial literacy training. This empowers them to engage in income-generating activities to support their children’s future education, addressing the socio-economic factors contributing to the dropout problem.
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