RUBIRIZI, UGANDA – Rubirizi Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Ahamedi Kinene has ordered authorities to arrest parents who are found loitering in trading centers and bars during school hours, either with their children or alone.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The RDC confirmed the development this week while speaking to the press at his office. He expressed concern over alarming reports from headteachers regarding low student turnout and increasing dropout rates in the district.
Kinene announced that he has placed security agencies and local leaders on high alert to arrest any parent found loitering in trading centers and bars during school hours, instead of ensuring their children are in class.
“I have instructed the security agencies, parish chiefs, and local leaders to arrest any parent found loitering in trading centers and bars during school hours. Instead of engaging in leisure activities while your children are at home, you should be ensuring they are in class,” Kinene warned.
The RDC stated that parents who fail to send their children to school will face arrest and prosecution. He added that such parents might even be forced to watch their children being disciplined at the police station.
In addition, Ahamedi Kinene warned headteachers against the illegal practice of charging tuition fees in government schools. He asserted that this practice contradicts government policy, the Education Act, and a direct presidential directive.
He described the illegal fee collection as a major contributor to the district’s dropout crisis and urged parents and students to immediately report any such cases to his office or other relevant authorities for swift action.
“Demanding school fees in government institutions is not only a violation of the Education Act but a direct defiance of the President’s directive, and it is driving our children out of school. I am calling upon parents to report any such illegal demands to my office immediately,” asserted Kinene.
The District Education Officer, Mr. Biru Stivin Warufu, encouraged students to remain focused on their studies, maintain high discipline, and serve as ambassadors of peace in their schools amidst the ongoing challenges.
He acknowledged the issue of school dropouts, agreeing with the RDC that a significant cause is schools sending children away for failure to pay illicit fees.
“I want to urge all students to concentrate on their books, maintain a high level of discipline, and be ambassadors of peace in their schools. Education is a right for every child, not a privilege for those who can pay,” Warufu emphasized.
The joint crackdown aims to ensure that every child of school-going age in the district is in the classroom, receiving the free education guaranteed by the government.
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