Government Unveils Plan to support Busoga Education Initiative

The Ministry of Education and Sports is to support the Busoga Education Initiative, which aims at improving the education standards in the sub region.

The revelation was made by the Minister of State for Education, Hon Rosemary Seninde at a meeting of the Busoga Parliamentary Group at Parliament on Thursday, 22 November 2018.

Seninde said that the Ministry is concerned about the poor performance of schools in the eastern region citing Busoga as having the lowest rating.

“It is true that when results are released, the eastern region has persistently performed poorly. The school that took the last position in the country was from Busoga. When you pull Busoga out of the eastern region, the region will improve,” she said.

Seninde revealed that for the past five years, Primary Leaving Examinations results show that the schools have been deteriorating.

“In 2014, out of the 1,425 candidates that scored zero in various subjects, Busoga sub-region had the highest number of candidates with zero score at 337,” she added.

The Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga, said that the education standards in Busoga call for urgent action.

“The situation in Busoga needs no explanation; the figures are all available, it is clear,” she said.

Kadaga asked the Education Ministry to prioritize Busoga region in its forthcoming programme on construction of a secondary school in each sub county. She gave an example of Mayuge district, which she said lacks a secondary school.

“How can a district with seven sub counties be without a secondary school? Where do children go for education?” Kadaga inquired.

The Busoga Education Initiative is a voluntary project for mobilization of resources to uplift education in the region.

According to Seninde, the support will include mobilization of local political and religious leaders and lobbying for funds among others.