Leaders and educationalists in Bunyoro region have blamed high rate of school dropouts on reluctant and unsupportive parents who have contributed much to the low quality of education in the region.
The Subregion leaders noted that there is cause for alarm to curb such challenges in the region with immediate action.
The remarks were made in an education forum meeting in Masindi town where these leaders resolved to pass ordinances to compel parents to take responsibility and keep their children in school.
According to leaders ,the school dropout in Bunyoro region stands at 30% at primary level and 15% at secondary level while 75% of pupils who start primary one don’t finish primary seven.
They explained that one can find over 200 children in P. 1 and the number keeps on dropping by the time they reach primary seven.
They also said that some of the traditional schools in the region such as Kabalega secondary school , St Edward Bukuumi have all fallen in their standards and success rate.
Dr Florence Asiimwe, the education minister Bunyoro Kitara kingdom noted that with the introduction of the universal and secondary education, parents are reluctant to take care of their children.
She said most parents do not have much attachment to the academic performance of their children which is a big challenge that needs to be dealt with in order to improve on the standard of education in the region.
“Even when a child doesn’t have a book, the parent will think that such scholastic materials should be provided by the school,” she said.
She also said that parents can not even enforce discipline in their children making it difficult for the child to access the required values of education.
“Discipline is key, actually there are parents whose children are even buying books for themselves,this makes it difficult for the child to compete school successfully,” she said.
Charles Ntairehoki, the district chairperson Kiryandongo said some of children drop out of school to earn a living by providing cheap labour on sugarcane plantations.
“The rate of school drop out is very high because investors there want cheap labour and parents can not enforce, in fact when a child drops out is a relief to a parent, many of our parents is just a relief to them,” he said.
He said the education policies should also be analyzed and revised depending on the region.
“We have got that problem of copy and paste ,the policy comes and we want to implement it immediately , so we need to analyze some of these policies and revised them,” he added.
The leaders have resolved to carry out sensitisation campgain across the region to remind parents of some of their cardinal roles.