Gogonyo: MP Orone angry after no candidate gets Division I in 2023 PLE

Pallisa: Gogonyo county member of parliament in Pallisa district, Derrick Orone is bitter with parents over poor performance in the recently released primary leaving examination results. In Gogonyo, no single candidate got division one.

Orone blames parents for failing to concentrate on their roles of providing children with the basic requirements needed at school.

“How do you deny food to your own child whom you know will take care of you at the old age?” Orone  asked parents in a meeting at Obutet sub county.

He said Gogonyo county is surrounded by lakes and pupils go fishing because their is nothing interesting at school.

“I urge my community to avoid unproductive caucusing in the trading centers. I had spent Shs 10milion on 100 mattresses, boxes, books and  blankets to reward those who would have passed in division one but because nobody has qualified I keep for next year,” he said.

Orone said Education office tried their best to inspect and give teachers support supervision but my parents relaxed.

“I am happy most schools held annual general meetings and accepted to support education of their children but most schools don’t have taskforces to enforce.”

However, John Opedun, the Pallisa district inspector of schools said the performance generally was not good but it should be noted that passing on division two without external help is better than having good cheated results.

“I should not be mistaken to be an  advocate or a defender of poor performance. I want to encourage my teachers y adhere to the work they chose and parentally help the pupils,” Opedun said.

Kenneth Mapeera, the LC3 chairperson of Obutet sub county in Gogonyo county said the government is also to blame because of understaffing of teachers.

Mapeera said a class is not like a church where  a catechist or a pastor is happy when it’s full, in Obutet primary school which has enrichment of 1,300 pupils only 11 teachers are there.

Amos Opolot, the former chairperson of bodaboda association in Pallisa said government is only strict on drivers who carry excess passengers but doesn’t penalize a teacher who accepts the number of pupils he cannot handle and help.

“To cause government recruit more teachers UNATU should advocate for recommended teacher to pupils ratio rather than putting salary increments as priority,” Opolot said.