Parents arrested for failing to take children to school

By Alex Baluku

In Kasese

At least 10 parents from Kabirizi Parish in Lake Katwe Sub-county, Kasese district were on Friday rounded up and arrested for failing to send their children to school.

Last week schools resumed operation after over nearly 2 years in closure.

However, some parents in Kasese in part of Kasese did not take children to school, thus Friday operation.

Although they were later released after caution, Wilson Asiimwe, the Lake Katwe Sub-county L. C III Chairperson said he decided to carry out operations  of arresting the children who have not yet returned to school and their parents after realizing that the turn-up was still very low in some schools in the area.
During the operation, many of the children were found with their parents while harvesting cotton and maize.

Jackson Niwagyira, the Chairperson Local Council I for Kabirizi village said they have done their part of sensitizing the parents to send their children to school but in vain.

Zephanus Kisembo, a father of four who was arrested with one of his children while picking cotton claimed that the rest had returned to school but the one remaining had no uniform and therefore they were looking for money to procure a school uniform for him.
When  The Second Opinion visited Kabirizi Primary School, he discovered that out of 245 learners, only 126 had turned up.

Wilson Baluku, the School’s Head teacher revealed that even those who have so far returned to  school  report late for classes, arguing that their parents first send them to the cattle farms and gardens while others come without books and pens.

Meanwhile, Parents in the district have been encouraged to always provide enough scholastic materials and other requirements to their children for effective learning.

The South Rwenzori Diocesan Education Secretary, the Rev. Asa Masereka
Kiryaghe cited the need for the parents to use the reopening of
schools as an opportunity for them to send their children back to
school and provide the required scholastic materials to them as the
only means of ensuring that the learners stay in school and complete
their education.