In 2021, more than 3,000 girls between the ages of 10-19 dropped out of school, impregnated and other were married off during the induced Covid-19 lockdown according to data obtained from Kwania Probation department. However, the statistics according to the leaders show that the problem has more than tripled than it was three years ago.
Hon. Kenny Auma, Kwania District Woman Member of Parliament addressing 2024 P.7 Candidates of Apire Primary School in Aduku Sub County (Photo by Solomon Okabo)
Poor school retention rates among boys in Kwania schools have worried district leaders.
Statistics from the National Population and Housing Census of 2024 indicate that less than 40 pupils in Kwania complete the recommended seven years of primary circle at school. The report shows that the completion rate of pupils in primary schools in Kwania stands at 38% with many dropouts being boys.
In 2021, more than 3,000 girls between the ages of 10 and 19 dropped out of school, were impregnated and were married off during the induced COVID-19 lockdown according to data obtained from the Kwania Probation Department.
However, the statistics according to the leaders show that the problem has more than tripled than it was three years ago.
James Oling, Kwania District Planner explained that out of the 100 pupils who join primary one in Kwania schools, only 38 complete primary seven. He said the average years of schools in Kwania is higher than that of the national ranking which stands at 6.1%, blaming it partly on high poverty rates as a result of subsistence farming.
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Solomon Okino, Inomo Town Council LCV Councilor attributes the escalating cases of school dropouts among the boys to the laxity of the stakeholders to mobilize the boys to remain in school.
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Geoffrey Alex Ogwal Adyebo, Kwania District said most of the boys that have neglected schools have become problematic in the community. He encouraged parents to send their children to school irrespective of gender and give them all the necessary support to complete their education circle.
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Jimmy Emmanuel Okello Ecun, the Chairman School Management Committee (SMC) of Atuma Primary School in Nambieso Sub County said many pupils are dropping out of school due to the long distance that pupils have to walk on a daily routine.
He cited an example in Atuma Primary School, where, out of the 784 pupils registered in Term III 2024, the school has only 215 boys and 569 girls, saying some of the sub-counties in the district have very few schools where students endure long distances to get to the nearest schools in the area.
However, Andrew Omunu, Kwania District Education Officer blamed the irregularity in school attendance and retention on the failure of schools and parents to implement the “School Feeding Policy” that aimed at providing mid-day meals to the learners to facilitate teaching and learning in schools.
Omuno said they have launched mandatory feeding in all the 58 government-aided primary schools in the district to address the low retention rates in the district.
Solomon Okabo
Freelancer