Focus on the plight our Children this Lent Season Two years ago at the beginning of Lent 2012, I was convicted to seek justice for our children, in our schools without learning and many dropping out. One major reason is they are hungry. Then I declared that I will have no lunch until our children have lunch at school. I have continued on that cause... because two years later, there is no change. I am reminded each day of school - especially when I feel hungry at around 3.00 pm, that as many as 80% of the children in Primary schools go without lunch and therefore, although in school, they are not learning. That is why completion rates at primary level in Uganda are still hovering at around 25%! This must change! Otherwise the future is gloomy for the majority of Uganda. Think for a moment where these children, dropping out from primary - where they will be in 10 years time!! This week, on Wednesday Christians started the season of lent 2014. Let us once again dedicate this season to our suffering children. Let us all call upon our government to do the right thing: invest more in education. I was told that we spend as much as Shs 600 million per day on President YK Museveni (the most expensive President in East Africa!) Yes, we spend as little as Shs 1,500 per term per child in UPE!! Let us rise up and demand that the Education Act be changed so it is possible for Foundation bodies and District Authorities to require parents and guardians to pay. After all, Section 5 (2) (c): The responsibility of the parents and guardians shall include- providing food, clothing, shelter, medical care and transport. Sadly the Act makes it illegal for any person or agency to levy any charge for the purpose of Education: 9 (1) says: No person or agency shall levy or order another person to levy any charge for the purposes of education in any primary or post primary institutions implementing the UPE or UPPET programme. My argument has been that since the idea of children packing lunch from their homes has failed, parents should pay a mandatory fee to make sure children have the midday meal at school. A fee of Shs 10,000 per term would provide for porridge every day!
Posted on: Fri, 07 Mar 2014 08:32:36 +0000
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