MP Achayo cautions Parents on selection of schools

By Lawrence Okwakol  

Pallisa: Ngora county member of parliament Juliet Achayo Lodou  has asked parents to always be mindful while selecting schools where they take their children.

While officiated at the closure of a three day induction training of newly elected school management committees (SMCs) members  at  Luois Gregory primary school Tiling in Kobuin  sub county Achayo asserted that parents should take extra care in choosing schools other than dumping children in places that would end up spoiling the young generation.

Achayo made the remarks  at Luois Gregory primary school Tiling in Kobuin sub county on ground that after the release of PLE and UCE results parents sometimes get uncontrollably joyous by performance of their children and excitedly take them to schools they cannot afford fees in a long run or in places that would end up spoiling the young ones.

” Am encouraging parents to go by their resource envelope and take students to nearby affordable schools to avoid disturbance of children. I give emphasis for my parents to utilize government schools and also technical schools for hands-on training “, Achayo said.

Turning to the SMC trainees she said they must know that their  work is voluntary and should not fix school administrators for any kind of appreciation.

“As school managers you should get acquainted with the education act, standing orders so that they are not caught by breaching and breaking the established laws”,Achayo said.

She said the war against corruption in Uganda should not be left in the hands of president Museveni alone but should start from the grassroot units.

John Stephen Ekoom the Ngora resident district commissioner said Teso sub region experienced food shortage making dry cassava chips hike up from usual 500/- per kilogram 2,000 which affects cash flow in the households, so parents should set their priorities well.

“As a chairperson security of  Ngora district  I want people to note that we are in dry season and therefore be careful and use the food from the harvest well”, Ekoom said.

Ekoom said the government schools in the communities have trained teachers and parents need only to meet requirements.

He said he studied in government schools in Bukedea and passed very well.

However,Moses Mathew Ocungu the Ngora district education officer said induction of SMCs is very important so that they understand their roles and policies of education.

Ocungu added that their work is voluntary but they should be dedicated as the foundation body trusted them.

“The challenges schools experience is when SMC crosses to do administrative work. In some school it’s unfortunate that members even dictate which teacher goes to which class and while making reports right channels should be used”, Ocungu said.

The day was crowned by giving out secondary school requirements to the 150 candidates who scored division one in PLE.

Achayo revealed that she had pledged to support senior one entrants who get division one.