Kole | On May 7, 2024, the Kole district local government held a belated International Women’s Day celebration at Okwerodot primary school in Okwerodot sub-county, Kole district.
While speaking to the public, Kole Resident District Commission (RDC) Josephine Omara Olili expressed deep concern about the district’s poor education system.
Olili cited Okwerodot Primary School and Okwerodot Seeds Secondary School as having very low enrollment rates, despite the government’s significant investment in ensuring that everyone receives an education.
Her statements regarding student enrollment at Okwerodot Seeds Secondary School were incorrect, according to Kole District Education Officer Tom Okare.
RDC Olili stated that the enrollment (10 students) was low. She attributed the low enrollment to domestic violence, naming Okwerodot and Alito sub-counties as hotspots for teenage pregnancy and early marriage in the district.
“As President Muesveni’s district representative, I am now urging the community to allow their children to consider Okwerodot Seeds Secondary School as their own property, because the government has invested too much in this project.”
Bonny Opio, vice LC3 chairperson of Okwerodot sub-county, stated that all of the cases recorded at the sub-county level are related to early child marriage.
“In Okwerodot sub-county, we have a number of girl children who are out of school and will not return. As leaders, we recognise that some parents encourage their children to marry at a young age, but we will begin arresting any parents who force their children to marry before the age of 18.
Tom Okare rejected the RDC figures for Okwerodot Seed learners, but admitted there has been low enrollment.
“I wanted the public to know that Okwerodot Seed Secondary has over 200 students, not 10 as previously stated by the RDC,” the DEO clarified.
Okare stated that their goal is to register at least 500 learners.
“I am now encouraging the local community to change their minds. I believe that some parents will continue to send their children to other schools, despite the fact that this school meets all of the ministry’s requirements and provides a higher quality education.
Okwerodot Seed Secondary School was built in 2021, but housing for teachers remains the biggest challenge, according to DEO Okare.
“I am still seeing some parents taking their children up to Kampala; this is not right; let us build an education system in our region,” he urged.
The government’s policy now requires that every sub-county have a Seed Secondary School.
“But what I do know is that all of these Seed secondary schools across the country are facing a similar challenge as a result of too many private schools, which will have an impact on the number of students at Seed Schools.”
According to the DEO, Kole district ranked first in Lango in both UCE and UACE results in 2023, citing St Mary’s Aboke and the privately owned Wisdom High School in Akalo town council.
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