Jane Afoyo, an education specialist at UNICEF, said the campaign is intended to encourage parents, guardians, and all relevant stakeholders to support dropouts to return to school until they complete their studies.
The school administration says the situation has been compounded by the inability of some parents to clear school fees for their children pushing the school into debt.
The Kasese Municipal Education Officer, Emmy Mwesige Kayiri said that the boarding facilities for the two schools lacked all the requirements to accommodate learners including basic sanitary facilities and safety measures. At Delight Children Education Centre they were using a goats' shelter as bathroom and had beds for the learners.
Teacher’s under the Uganda National teacher’s Union-UNATU started an indefinite nationwide strike on June 15, in protest of the government's decision to raise the pay for certain teachers in violation of past agreements that guaranteed equality and harmonization of salaries for all teachers.
Kitulha Meress, one of the female students at the institute, says that she recieved several discouraging messages from the public during her first semester, arguing that such sentiments have dispirited many of her peers from joining vocational institutions.
Joseph Basisa, the chairperson of UNATU Nyakasanga Division in Kasese Municipality says that they will monitor all schools to ensure that the teachers observe the industrial action.
Nuuhu Matovu Mugabi, the head teacher of Mahango seed secondary school, says that they have not registered any students in Advanced Level since 2019 because many parents are not pleased with the services.
Milton Masereka, the Head teacher says that the management of the schools has resolved to set aside a fund to buy mattresses and uniforms for all the affected students.
Edgar Bwambale, a student at the school, says that the light in the dormitories went off and after a short while power returned and they instantly heard a blast followed by smoke.
Samuel Kabinga, the Kasese district disease surveillance focal person, says that as cases re-emerge, vaccination of children has been identified by authorities as one of the means to reduce transmission and infections in schools.
The teenager, whose name has been held because she is a minor, reportedly gave birth to a baby girl last Thursday and hide her in the shrubs next to her home. The teenager successfully hid her pregnancy from both the school authorities and her parents.
Abraham Mpwerwa, the headteacher of Buusu primary school which is 1.2 kilometers away from the border of DR Congo near river Lamia, says that the refugees destroyed a lot of furniture and used it for cooking.
Kiiza, the former Kasese woman member of parliament, says that through the campaign, they hope to mobilize different stakeholders, especially parents to ensure their children return and complete school. She says education is a sacrifice and parents must be encouraged to invest in their children.
The recommended pupil-desk ratio is three pupils per desk, but the school is now struggling with five pupils per desk while other pupils sit on the floor.
Edward Twijukye, the headteacher of Katunguru Primary School, says that the two girls will inspire young parents faced with similar choices and obstacles that they too can pursue their goals with the right support.
Friday Bwambale, the deputy headteacher of Bulembia Primary school, says that the school management wrote to Kilembe Mines requesting to use its unoccupied wooden structures and these have now been modified to create three classrooms and office space
Evaleri Bwamable, the deputy school headteacher of Ibanda Primary in Maliba Sub County, says that teachers have failed to have a comprehensive study outline due to the absence of a guiding curriculum.
In December, the Ministry of Education released 62 Billion Shillings as capitation grants for schools in the current financial year. The grant normally is used by schools to procure instructional materials, facilitate co-curricular activities, school management, and payment of utilities like electricity and water.
Alimah Aryemah, the chairperson of Muhokya IDP camp, says that the camp has about 183 school-going children many of whom are under the care of single mothers. She told URN that none of the 60 students in secondary school was able to report back on Monday.
