The Defence and Military spokesperson, Acting Major General Felix Kulayigye, has expressed deep concern over the declining enrollment in government schools across Bukomansimbi District, blaming parents' reluctance to embrace the government’s free education programs.
During the handover of newly constructed classroom blocks at St Maurice Mixed Primary School in Kitaasa and St Matia Mulumba Budda Primary School, Kulayigye voiced his disappointment over the persistent low attendance in government schools, despite efforts to improve infrastructure.
Kulayigye shared statistics from both schools, revealing that only 26 pupils at St. Maurice Mixed Primary School and 46 pupils at St. Matia Mulumba Budda Primary School sat for their Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) last year.
He questioned why parents in Bukomansimbi, a district where many families face financial challenges, choose to enroll their children in expensive private schools instead of taking advantage of the government’s Universal Primary Education (UPE) and Universal Secondary Education (USE) programs.
“When I attended Kitaasa Primary School, boys and girls studied separately because the school had enough pupils. Now they have been forced to mix due to low numbers. How is it that in Masaka, where people struggle financially, parents still opt for private schools with higher fees instead of utilizing free education? To me, this is a challenge,” Kulayigye said.
The UPDF spokesperson stressed that government schools offer quality education and urged local leaders to mobilize parents to enroll their children in government-funded institutions.
Kulayigye also challenged local leaders to investigate the root causes of the declining enrollment and find sustainable solutions. He emphasized that leadership is about addressing issues and finding practical solutions, not simply observing problems.
“The purpose of leadership is to solve problems. This issue of low enrollment in government schools requires urgent intervention. Leaders must collaborate with communities to ensure these schools fulfill their intended purpose,” he stated.
The ceremony, presided over by the Minister for Luweero-Rwenzori, Alice Kaboyo, marked the official handover of classroom blocks and other infrastructure projects at St Maurice Mixed Primary School and St. Matia Mulumba Budda Primary School.